A while ago, Hormel scaled back its pepperoni.

Too many choices.

Let’s think about this.

There’s the original.
Turkey
Dill (WTF, where were they thinking?)
Crispy
Jalapeno
Some type that has cheese oil in it
Mini
Large
Crumbles
Links
Salami
Chorizo (what’s this?)

—— How many types of pepperoni can a market support, especially given the competition?

Has this already been scaled back?
Where are organic, non-GMO, and thick-sliced pepperoni?

Too many choices.
Too much invested.
Too little return.

But what would they trim?
Decision paralysis.

Given the current market from the customer perspective, trying something new isn’t a great option. Tossing something away when the trusted original pepperoni is still usable is wasteful.

But people still like options, and Hormel wants as much shelf space as possible to reduce competitors’ influence.

Still, the original pepperoni is the best-selling. It sets the standards. It is what people really want.

It’s kind of a catch-22.

From this horrible pepperoni segway, I’m pivoting to dating.

When a partner is selected from a limited pool, relationships are formed. The person is met in high school or college. They tend to be united or similar in beliefs, finances, or common goals.

The limited selection of potential mates means that people invest. The need for comfort, companionship, friendship, and cohorts could be satisfied to some degree by others.

The limited selection meant that people took time to get to know each other.

There isn’t an option to switch to a new person every other day.

But that changed.

Dating apps meant that people could have an infinite number of options.

Instead of choosing between original and turkey pepperoni, a person could have dill pickle one day, crispy the next, and minis a day later.

There aren’t just a dozen options; there are hundreds of thousands at the flick of a finger.

There isn’t an investment.

Plenty of variety.

Even though a person may want original, FOMO kicks in. What if a different one is better? Social media says jalapeño is the ‘in’ and everyone should have it.

Eventually, a person could become burnt out on pepperoni, develop an aversion to it, and just do without it.

If I could date Brent (mini), Justin (dill), and Ashton (crumble), the person ceases to be a person.

The picture on the phone is a commodity.
It’s something that could be potentially “purchased” through a private message, used, and disregarded – often with little thought.

And, of course, dating apps don’t want people to match. That would reduce inventory – the people – and shrink their bottom line.

Bumble and whatever want to tease just enough to make subscribers feel hopeful but ultimately don’t want to lose that monthly fee.

So, I think the option most are taking is simply not to play.

While the unlimited option of choice isn’t the full cause for declining families, births, and an increase in loneliness and OF, it’s certainly a contributor.

I think dating apps are on the decline.
People are just freezing out – too many choices. Decision fatigue – personal disappointment.

A person wants to go back to the original – to the limited selection – to find what they want and, more important, the person they need for a successful and happy life.

But, has the original been destroyed?

Is it too risky to go on a date with a stranger?

Is a guy afraid to date or even approach a woman because he’s afraid of rejection – or worse – being MeTooed?

Is a woman going to fret over who pays for what, if her makeup is correct, and emotionally invest in a long-term relationship?

Going back to commodification –

Is the risk worth the reward?
Is the short-term investment worth it?
— Especially when there are other options there – just there – online.


I think a lot of people are saying ‘no.’
The economy sucks. Life sucks. Global warming sucks.

Too much.

And people just don’t have the courage or strength to go forward.

The original appreciation for pepperoni has been lost.