Trump Steaks
| Company type | Licensed brand |
|---|---|
| Industry | Food and beverage |
| Founded | May 8, 2007 in New York City, United States |
| Founder | Donald Trump (licensed) |
| Defunct | December 2014 |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Meat and steak products, including USDA Angus-certified steaks, burgers, and sausages |
| Owner | Donald Trump (licensed) |
Trump Steaks was a meat and steak brand licensed by Donald Trump. Introduced in May 2007, the product was exclusively retailed through The Sharper Image and QVC. Due to disappointing sales figures and unmet projections, The Sharper Image ceased carrying the line just two months post-launch.
History
Donald Trump secured the "Trump Steaks" trademark in the United States in August 2006. The brand officially debuted on May 8, 2007, available via The Sharper Image’s catalog, physical stores, and online platform as part of a three-month pilot program. Promotion included appearances by Trump and participants from his reality show The Apprentice at an event held at Rockefeller Plaza.
Buckhead Beef, a Sysco-owned Atlanta company that also supplied meat to several Trump hotel-casino venues, provided the steaks. The lineup featured USDA Angus-certified cuts including steaks, burgers, and sausages, with package prices ranging from $199 to $999 under the slogan "The World's Greatest Steaks." Additionally, a $1,037 Trump Steak Gift Card was offered. The brand even became a target of satire on a May 2007 episode of Saturday Night Live.
In June 2007, Trump appeared on the cover of The Sharper Image’s catalog to promote the steaks. On June 5, 2007, Trump Steaks launched on QVC with Trump himself presenting; QVC sold Certified Angus Beef Steakburgers in 16-packs. Despite this exposure, sales remained low—Sharper Image CEO Jerry W. Levin estimated overall revenue at approximately $50,000.
While advertisements featuring Trump boosted traffic for other products at The Sharper Image, the steak line was discontinued at both retailers within a few months. According to records from the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the trademark was officially canceled in December 2014.
2007 reception
A New York Post conducted a blind taste test pitting Trump Steaks against mail-order porterhouse steaks from Peter Luger Steak House and three other New York City butchers. Trump Steaks received a score of 7.5 out of 10—falling short of Peter Luger's $35 per pound porterhouses which earned 9.5—but outperforming offerings from a Greenwich Village butcher and Ottomanelli Brothers. Tad's Steaks, known for budget-friendly meals, scored poorly in comparison. Both the Associated Press and The Oklahoman gave favorable reviews to Trump Steaks while pointing out their steep price point. Panelists from The Palm Beach Post rated the Angus-certified prime bone-in rib-eye highly for flavor and tenderness with an "A" grade but noted its premium cost relative to competitors priced between $9 and $16 per pound. Meanwhile, Gourmet characterized the steaks as "wholly mediocre."
2016 U.S. presidential election
By August 2015, Time included Trump Steaks among Donald Trump's business failures. During the 2016 U.S. presidential race, a super PAC supporting John Kasich released an advertisement ridiculing the brand. On February 10, 2016, the New York Daily News also listed Trump Steaks among Trump's unsuccessful ventures.
At a March 8, 2016 Florida press conference celebrating primary wins, Trump displayed steaks produced by West Palm Beach’s Bush Brothers Provision Co., marketing them as "Trump Steaks." Alongside these were Trump-branded wine and water products intended to showcase his business achievements. Observers noted that these steaks originated from a local butcher rather than being directly produced by Trump himself.
In March 2016, Vox reported mixed customer feedback on QVC’s website for the steaks, with over half of reviewers assigning low ratings (1 or 2 stars). In an interview with Anderson Cooper, Trump acknowledged he does not process the steaks personally but obtains them through regional suppliers. As of April 2016, availability of Trump Steaks was limited exclusively to his own properties.
See also
External links
- Official website
- – Advertisement for The Sharper Image starring Donald Trump
- Trump Steaks – Google Trends data
- Assets owned by the Trump Organization
- Brand name meats
- Steak
- Defunct food and drink companies based in New York City
- American companies established in 2007
- Food and drink companies established in 2007
- Products introduced in 2007
- Food and drink companies disestablished in 2014
- 2007 establishments in New York City
- 2014 disestablishments in New York City
- Defunct food and drink companies of the United States
- Businesses of Donald Trump that went bankrupt
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment