I love Cousins Subs.

Since I’m a Cousins “Fan,” I tend to follow their new product offerings very closely. Since I’m a PR guy, I found the latest move by the sandwich chain, which enjoys a sterling corporate reputation in the communities where it does business, very interesting.

This morning I was awakened to, during Wisconsin’s Morning News on WTMJ radio here in Milwaukee, Cousins’ launch of a 1,470-calorie sandwich called the “Big Daddy.”

What I found interesting was Cousins apparent intention to promote the fact that the sandwich had nearly 1,500 calories. So Cousins is, in essence, promoting the fact that the sandwich is unhealthy, in addition to being–I’m sure–incredibly delicious and filling a desire of the company’s customers. Did I mention that I love Cousins Subs?

Gene Mueller, the host of Wisconsin’s Morning News, said that Cousins’ aim was to get people talking.

Mission accomplished. At least from our tiny corner of the blogosphere, and Journal Communications’ (owner of WTMJ and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel newspaper) rather large corner of the public domain here in southeastern Wisconsin. I certainly would expect some national pickup as well.

Since we do a considerable amount of work in the food business, including food system sustainability and the like, we are keenly aware of issues that can put companies on the hit list of various advocacy groups. Nutrition is one of those issues.

Cousins Subs represents a fabulously successful story of a business that started in Milwaukee (I believe) in the early 1970s and has grown to more than 100 stores in six states. While the advocacy groups that might take offense at the birth of the Big Daddy tend to target larger chains than Cousins, I hope and expect that Cousins is ready for any opposition that may appear.

After all, I love Cousins Subs.