I seem to recall that Hamburger Helper was introduced shortly after the 1970 recession, when unemployment "skyrocketed" to 6% from 4% and inflation was running at 4.5%. Coming after nearly a decade of recession-free growth, the 70's recession felt a lot more painful than it perhaps appears in hindsight.
The influx of women into the workforce (I think) was largely a 70's and 80's phenomenon as workforce participation rose from about 60% to 66%.
At any rate, I think HH was largely pitched as a way to stretch the grocery dollar at a time when meat prices seemed to go up between every weekly visit to the A&P.
About ten years later, the movie "Mr. Mom" recapitulated this idea with the ad pitch for "Schooner Tuna".
On Hamburger Helper and the Entropic Degradation of All Things
Great article, though I have one small quibble.
I seem to recall that Hamburger Helper was introduced shortly after the 1970 recession, when unemployment "skyrocketed" to 6% from 4% and inflation was running at 4.5%. Coming after nearly a decade of recession-free growth, the 70's recession felt a lot more painful than it perhaps appears in hindsight.
The influx of women into the workforce (I think) was largely a 70's and 80's phenomenon as workforce participation rose from about 60% to 66%.
At any rate, I think HH was largely pitched as a way to stretch the grocery dollar at a time when meat prices seemed to go up between every weekly visit to the A&P.
About ten years later, the movie "Mr. Mom" recapitulated this idea with the ad pitch for "Schooner Tuna".