Worldwide, everyone knows it’s Easter when that signature, delicious dish hits the family dinner table—lamb. That’s right! In most of the world, lamb is considered the traditional Easter meal, but in the U.S., the sweet, crunchy-glazed Honey Baked Ham reigns supreme. Here’s how America—and HoneyBaked—shook up traditional Easter meal offerings over the last century.
The Start of Our Own Tradition
Easter lamb is a long-standing Christian tradition in much of the world, but it actually comes from the earlier tradition of the Jewish Passover lamb. Lamb was also the more popular Easter meat in America until the years during and after World War II. Like the microwave oven and the internet, the development of Easter ham began with the U.S. Military.
Because U.S. Military uniforms were made primarily from wool, sheep were generally in high demand in the U.S., which meant lamb was abundant. During the second World War, however, the development of synthetic fabrics made wool obsolete and drastically decreased the need for sheep and with it, the availability of lamb.
All in the Timing
As lamb prices went up in the U.S., people began to look for a delicious alternative that was abundantly available during the Easter season.
Cold winter temperatures in the time before electric refrigeration meant that traditionally, ham underwent a curing process over a period of months following the fall butchering season. Curing was designed to preserve what meat hadn’t been sold by the farmer in the fall so it would last until spring. Come March or April, the cured ham would be tender, savory and ready to eat.
Hello Food Retail Market; Hello HoneyBaked
By the 1950s, the popularity of the family ham feast in the U.S. had grown significantly, and a Detroit native named Harry Hoenselaar recognized a need for a safe, easy and reliable method for preparing it. After inventing the first spiral ham slicer, Harry went on to make good use of it in America’s very first Honey Baked Ham Company store which he founded in 1957. His high-quality, ready-to-eat hams took the holiday table by storm and solidified ham’s place as an American Easter tradition.
HoneyBaked Franchisees Bring Easter Ham into a New Era
One of the joys of owning a retail food franchise like HoneyBaked is the opportunity to carry the torch of tradition. Our franchisees are proud to bring our 60+-year history into a new age and introduce the tradition to a new generation of customers looking for the best homestyle American cuisine.
Though times have changed since the first HoneyBaked opened in Detroit, serving a glazed, spiral-sliced ham on Easter remains a stalwart part of America’s springtime holiday tradition. HoneyBaked franchisees help keep that tradition alive in the twenty-first century with streamlined restaurant and catering franchise operations that make serving a beloved family meal simpler than ever for our customers. Online ordering, delivery, curbside pickup and more will help keep customers safe as they strive to keep the flame of Easter tradition burning bright.
You have the opportunity to be a part of our history, too! If you are considering owning a HoneyBaked franchise location in your area, start the journey today. We encourage you to reach out to our franchise development team for more information.
