Israelis and Palestinians, take note!

A winning match

It was one of those supermarket mysteries: Hot dogs came in packages of eight, typically, while hot dog buns only came in packs of six or 12. The reason was that hot dogs, as meat, are sold by the pound, and buns, as bakery products, are sold by the dozen or half dozen. As a result, families were constantly stuck with bunless franks or frankless buns.

Now two fine old Chicago companies -- Vienna Beef and Alpha Baking, home of S. Rosen's buns -- have announced a breakthrough: buns in packages of eight.

Although most improvements on the classic hot dog have fallen by the wayside -- who recalls hot dogs with the condiments inside? -- we predict this will catch on.

Like all changes, it comes with drawbacks: Having a few extra buns came in handy if one burnt while toasting, or if a parent began putting on mustard for a child who suddenly shouts, ''No mustard!'' And running out of buns led to the frank-and-beans gambit, which has its fans as well.

But we think the benefit in a more efficient marrying of hot dog to bun is considerable, reduces waste, and makes this move one of the more significant economic advances of 2005.

In this harshly competitive world, American companies need to be as smart as they can be, and this better use of a valuable resource -- our nation's hot dog buns -- bodes well for the future.

Source: http://www.suntimes.com/output/commentary/cst-edt-edits19.html