Talk of the Town: Spam makes a comeback

Spam — that pink-colored block of meat in a can — is flying off the shelves these days.

It’s spooky to some (like me), but it’s an inexpensive meal that goes a long way when added to a variety of recipes.

Sales of the often-maligned meat are rising as consumers are turning more to lunch meats and other lower-cost foods to extend their already stretched food budgets.

Spam, also the subject of a Tony winning musical, Monty Python’s Spamalot (voted best musical 2004-05), is back on the table as people turn to the once-snubbed meat as costs rise, analysts say.

Food prices are increasing faster than they’ve risen since 1990, at four percent in the United States last year, according to the Agriculture Department. Many staples are rising even faster, with white bread up 13 percent last year, bacon up seven percent and peanut butter up nine percent.

There’s no sign of a slowdown folks. Food inflation is running at an annualized rate of 6.1 percent as of April, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The price of Spam is up too, with the average 12 ounce can costing about $2.62. That’s an increase of 17 cents, or nearly seven percent, from the same time last year.

Spam’s maker, Hormel Foods Corp., realizes the pork meat in a can seems like a good alternative to consumers on a budget.

Hormel executives credited the sales increase to that, along with new products like individually packaged “Spam Singles” slices. Also helping sales, executives said, is the fact that people looking to save money are skipping restaurant meals and eating more at home.

Spam sales are reaching across all spectrums, young and old and rich and poor, said Swen Neufeldt, Hormel’s group product manager for the area that includes Spam. Many of the eaters are new to Spam, which was created in 1937 and gained fame as the meat that fed Allied troops during World War II.

A portion of the Spam history time line, according to its fun Web site:

1936: Spam is born! Originally called Hormel Spiced Ham, the company holds a contest to create a name as distinctive as the taste. The winner, Kenneth Daigneau, receives the grand prize... $100.

1940: Spammy the pig, the Spam mascot, makes a guest appearance on the George Burns and Gracie Allen hit radio show to help pitch Spam. Spam radio jingles were everywhere.

1945: According to Nikita Khrushchev’s book, Khrushchev Remembers, Spam is fed to Russian soldiers in World War II. Also, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher calls Spam a “war-time delicacy.”

1957: Spam goes global as agreements with companies to sell Spam in Ireland, Canada, England and Venezuela.

1959: Spam produces its one billionth can! That’s like a thousand million cans!

1964: Hormel Foods buys a hydrostatic cooker to keep up with the demand for Spam. (It takes only one operator and turns out 350 cans of Spam per minute.) Mmmmm. Hydrostatic.

1970: Spam produces its two billionth can! (Who’s counting?) Spam makes its own television debut on a sketch of Monty Python’s Flying Circus — the Green Midget Caf/ serves eggs and Spam, eggs, bacon and Spam, eggs bacon, sausage and Spam...(you get the idea!)

1971: Hormel Foods introduces smoke-flavored Spam.

1980: The three billionth can of Spam is produced! That’s like three thousand million!

1986: Only six years after producing its three billionth can, Spam reaches the four billion mark! Spam less sodium is introduced. (Less sodium means more room for whatever else is in it.)

1987: Spam turns 50! A huge party is thrown with Spam balloons and Spam cake and Spam appetizers and soft drinks. There may have been a pinata, too.

1994: Spam produces its five billionth can! That’s a lot of Spam!

1998: Spam changes its look to a gold can and a label featuring the world-famous Spamburger hamburger. Spam also merges onto the information superhighway with the launch of spam.com. Spam fans around the world rejoice!

2001: Hormel Foods opens the Spam Museum in Austin, Minn. More than 100,000 people visit every year. Admission is free.

2001: Hormel Foods introduces Spam Lite, apparently because everybody started a diet that year.

2002: Spam produces its six billionth can! How much Spam can the world hold? Only time will tell.

2007: Spam Singles released nationally. You can still enjoy them, even if you are married.

A group of Continental School fourth grade friends brainstormed recently and decided to raise funds for The Animal League of Green Valley. One parent, Michelle Bessett, credits Continental teacher Kathy Rieman for engaging these children in “some amazing discussions” about giving back.

“Mrs. Reiman really believes that this is the best time to teach these kids to love themselves, be proud of who they are, and help others,” Michelle said.

During the student’s free time at school, they went through cookbooks, picked recipes, made a grocery list and divided the ingredients needed among them. The girls, Shelby Bessett, Becca Swartzentruber and Sara Malkin, asked Safeway in Sahuarita for permission to sell baked goods outside their front entrance to raise money for the Animal League.

The girls had a sleep over and baked until late the night before the sale. On the sale day, they got up early and headed for Safeway.

“These girls had to ask strangers to open their pocket books and their hearts,” Michelle said. “When they were rejected it was heart breaking. I kept thinking to myself, maybe it would have been easier to just give them money to donate. But they persevered.”

Michelle said the three girls never got discouraged.

“They really believed they could help make a difference,” she added. “And they did! When the kids were done they ran to the van, dumped out the money and started counting.”

The young fund raisers made $162.

“They could not wait to take the money, and of course some extra baked goods, to the people at the Animal League,” Michelle said. “Animal League President Jean Davis was there and she was so sweet. I just have to say I have never been prouder of my daughter then that day, it was amazing.”

rford@gvnews.com | 547-9740