I'm adding a new feature to my bbq web site this week: "The BBQ Guy's U.S. Barbecue Stock Index".

This stock index was contrived by TheBBQGuy.com to formulate a methodology for tracking the overall health of the barbecue hobby comprised of industries and companies that have a direct impact on the recreational back-yard barbecue cook, barbecue restauranteurs, and serious competition barbecue cooks.

TheBBQGuy.com has taken a seat-of-the-pants approach to researching the twelve stocks that comprise the "The BBQ Guy's U.S. Barbecue Stock Index" based on years of experience in preparing barbecue, eating barbecue and researching the viability of the barbecue industry. Based on this highly unscientific research, the following stocks have been identified as significant indicators of the barbecue industry as a whole.


U.S. Barbecue Index
(Provided courtesy TheBBQGuy.com)

Archer Daniels Midland................$ 24.52
Clorox Company............................$ 54.29
Darden Restaurants......................$ 36.09
Famous Dave's of America...........$ 10.93
Fleetwood Enterprises..................$ 11.13
H.J. Heinz Company......................$ 35.70
Hormel Foods Corporation...........$ 32.62
Pilgrim's Pride Corporation..........$ 31.97
Seaboard Corporation...................$1,685.00
Smithfield Foods............................$ 30.38
Tyson Foods...................................$ 16.78
Wal-Mart Stores............................$ 50.49
Index Total...........................$2,019.90

Be sure to check-in at TheBBQGuy.com for periodic updates.