CHICAGO, May 16 /PRNewswire/ -- In the spirit of peace, brotherhood and the benefit of all mankind, two Chicago-based companies that are, literally, as legendary as the Chicago-style hot dog, are taking an unprecedented step toward resolving one of the most vexing issues of our time: Why are hot dog and buns packaged in different quantities?

On May 17, 2005, at 11:45 a.m., the presidents of S. Rosen's, produced by Alpha Baking Co. and Vienna Beef, will convene at the James R. Thompson Center at 100 W. Randolph St. in Chicago, for the formal signing of a "piece" treaty promising to forever more package their hot dogs and buns in the same quantity: eight!

Eliminating one of life's annoyances has long been a topic of discussion between the two companies and through countless hours of negotiation, a more or less "formal" accord was struck. Currently, hot dogs are manufactured in packs of eight, and buns are produced in packs of six or twelve. As a result, shoppers must purchase 24 each of hot dogs and buns for an equal number. According to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, 837 million packages of hot dogs were sold in 2004, and hot dog sales through supermarkets topped $1.8 billion in 2003.

Long lamented by harried cooks and picnic planners nationwide, and made famous by comedian Steve Martin in 1991's Father of the Bride, the issue of "bunless" hot dogs will be resolved, restoring peace and sanity to meal planners everywhere. By both firm's estimates, more than 2 million buns a year have fallen to the wayside, not to mention the hundreds of hot dogs that may have been abandoned by frankfurter aficionados who refused to eat their dogs without buns.

"All of us at Vienna Beef are thrilled to do our part to make this world a better place, and all we are saying is give 'piece' a chance," said Howard Eirinberg, president of Vienna Beef, Chicago's venerable producer of frankfurters and sausages for more than 100 years. "On behalf of all our employees, management and owners, I promise that Vienna Beef will package our hot dogs in quantities of eight to honor the commitment made by our good friends at Alpha."

"Life is too short not to change the things we can and we MUST work together to give peace, or piece, a chance," says Larry Marcucci, president of Alpha Baking Company, Chicago's premier baker of buns, rolls, bagels and more under the S. Rosen's, MaryAnn, Kreamo, Castle, National, CableCar and Golden Hearth brands. "Eliminating one of the persistent inconsistencies of our time will be something that we all can be very proud of and I personally believe it will be my legacy to my company, the food industry and hot dog lovers everywhere."