4 Chains Celebrating National Hot Dog Day

CHICAGO — U.S. consumers are expected to eat about 7 billion hot dogs—about 818 hot dogs every second—between Memorial Day and Labor Day this summer, according to the Washington, D.C.-based National Hot Dog and Sausage Council. In fact, the United States consumed an estimated 150 million red hots on July 4 alone, the council said.

Those numbers may spike on July 17, National Hot Dog Day, when numerous convenience-store and travel-center retailers will offer annual promotions to celebrate these beefy delicacies.

Here are four retailers celebrating National Hot Dog Day …

Pilot Flying J will offer one free roller-grill item per customer on July 17 at select locations to celebrate National Hot Dog Day. The promotion—available only to consumers who use the Pilot Flying J mobile app—also includes a free beverage for first-time users of the app.

Besides classic hot dogs, Pilot Flying J’s roller-grill menu includes jalapeno cheese hot dogs, Johnsonville grilled brats and Johnsonville country recipe sausages and breakfast sausage links—all of which are available during breakfast hours. The chain also offers a variety of fresh toppings for these items, such as sauerkraut, sliced jalapenos and banana peppers.

TravelCenters of America will offer one free hot dog per customer from noon through midnight on National Hot Dog Day at participating TA, Petro and TA Express locations. Consumers must be members of the retailer's UltraOne loyalty program to receive the dog. UltraOne members must print a coupon from an UltraOne kiosk and redeem at the register for their red hot. Guests can also purchase two hot dogs for $1 during the promotion.

“Providing these offers on National Hot Dog Day is another fun way to show our guests how much we appreciate them,” said Rodney Bresnahan, executive vice president of retail operations for TravelCenters of America.

Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores will offer customers one free hot dog or roller-grill item on July 17 at select locations. The company has added a barcode to its corporate website, which consumers must scan at the register to receive their frank.

Love's roller-grill items include Schwab's Finest Hot Dogs, Tornados, Roller Bites and egg rolls.

Circle K is offering $1 hot dogs throughout July to celebrate National Hot Dog Day. On July 17, hot dogs will be 50 cents.

The company is also offering hot dog-focused limited-time offers during the month, such as a Polar Pop beverage and a hot dog for $2; a Polar Pop and two hot dogs for $3; a Polar Pop, a hot dog and a bag of chips for $3; a Polar Pop, two hot dogs and a bag of chips for $4; and a 32-ounce Powerade, two hot dogs and a bag of chips for $4.