Spam sales rise

[HogNose]

Has it gotten that bad that we need to start stocking up on Spam?:doh:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24861341/

Spam sales rise as consumers trim spending

Much-maligned canned meat benefits from ad campaign, weak economy

MILWAUKEE - Love it, hate it or laugh at it — at least it's inexpensive.

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

What was once cheeky, silly and the subject of a Monty Python musical, Spam is now back on the table as people turn to the once-snubbed canned meat as costs rise, analysts say.

U.S. food prices rose 4 percent last year, the fastest pace in nearly two decades, according to the Agriculture Department. Many staples are rising even faster, with white bread up 13 percent last year, bacon up 7 percent and peanut butter up 9 percent.

There's no sign of a slowdown. 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 7 percent, from the same time last year. But it's not stopping sales, as the pork meat in a can seems like a good alternative to consumers.

Kimberly Quan, a stay-at-home mom of three who lives just outside San Francisco, has been feeding her family more Spam in the last six months as she tries to make her food budget go further.

She cooks meals like Spam fried rice and Spam sandwiches two or three times a month, up from once a month previously.

Pulling Spam from the shelf prevents last-minute grocery store trips and overspending, said Quan, 38, of Pleasanton, Calif.

"It's canned meat and it's in the cupboard and if everything else is gone from the fridge, it's there," she said.

Spam's maker, Hormel Foods Corp., reported last week that it saw strong sales of Spam in the second quarter, helping push up its profits 14 percent. According to sales information coming from Hormel, provided by The Nielsen Co., Spam sales were up 10.6 percent in the 12-week period ending May 3, compared with last year. In the last 24 weeks, sales were up nearly 9 percent.

The Austin, Minn.-based company, also known for the Jennie-O Turkey Store, has embarked on its first national advertising campaign for the 71-year-old brand in several years. They've credited the sales increase to that, along with new products like individually packaged "Spam Singles" slices. Also helping sales, executives said in an earnings conference call, was 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 consumers are new to Spam, which was created in 1937 and gained fame as the meat that fed Allied troops during World War II.

"We have significantly increased our household penetration," Neufeldt said. "I think it's a lot of folks that are coming into the brand perhaps for the first time and coming back to the brand."

Hormel began its advertising campaign, including print and television, for Spam in January. Neufeldt said such campaigns are planned in advance and it wasn't tied to perceived weakness in the economy.

Consumers are quick to realize that meats like Spam and other processed foods can be substituted for costlier cuts as a way of controlling costs, said Marcia Mogelonsky, senior research analyst with Mintel International in Chicago.

These products have protein and decent nutritional value, and they provide some variety to consumers who may be bored because they're eating more at home, she said.

"They might not have Spam at every single meal, but they might supplement a couple of meals," she said.

Consumers are also using more coupons and paying more attention to sales, doing anything they can to save money, she said. You may be able to cut back on your driving due to high gas prices, but you're not going to stop eating because of high food prices, she said.

Quan just bought a couple more cans of Spam on sale and some ramen, the instant noodle dish long a staple on college campuses. Her food and gas budgets are together, so she's had to cut back on food spending while the cost of gas increases. Her favorite Spam meal? Spam and macaroni and cheese. She doesn't skimp on nutrition, though. Quan serves her husband and three children — ranging in age from 4 to 11 — organic vegetables like salads, broccoli and carrots.

"It balances out," she said.

Other companies are seeing similar boosts in their lunch meats. Kraft Foods Inc. reported last month that subsidiary Oscar Mayer, which makes hot dogs, bacon and cold cuts, saw double-digit revenue growth in the previous quarter in its Deli Fresh cold cuts. The company, based in Madison, Wis., has recently introduced new products including family sized deli-meat packs and deli carved, which offers thicker slices of meat.

[Coach Williams]

Spam!!!

" Now with 3% REAL* meat"

*May or may not include actual meat

[China]

Spam!!!

" Now with 3% REAL* meat"

*May or may not include actual meat

Is it good with strawberry milk?

[Jumbo]

[jpillian]

I've eaten many disgusting things any my life. None really approached SPAM.

Nassssssty.

[Heidenreich]

SPAM is so nasty.

I would cut EVERYTHING out of my life before I ate Spam. There are other ways to save money if need be. Eating **** is not one of them.....

[Kurd Cudins]

The funny thing is this is directly related to illegal immigration. The immigrants buy the SPAM here and ship it back to their families. In those countries it's a quality product.

[jpillian]

The funny thing is this is directly related to illegal immigration. The immigrants buy the SPAM here and ship it back to their families. In those countries it's a quality product.

You know, I didn't used to feel bad for them.

NOW I feel bad for them.

[TrumanB]

I actually love Spam. And if you compare the ingredients in Spam (pork shoulder and ham) to a hotdog (eyeballs, pig snouts, hooves, a-holes, etc), which one is really disgusting?

[Larry]

I actually love Spam. And if you compare the ingredients in Spam (pork shoulder and ham) to a hotdog (eyeballs, pig snouts, hooves, a-holes, etc), which one is really disgusting?

I think it was von Bismark who said:

Any man who respects the law and loves sausage should never watch either of them being made.

[twa]

I think it was von Bismark who said:

Any man who respects the law and loves sausage should never watch either of them being made.

:laugh: True enough

Spam ain't half bad and is a major seller in Hawaii

A Spamburger,a Dos Equis,a hot woman and a Maui sunset are not bad.

Don't knock it till ya tried it.

[ArmchairRedskin]

Yeah, apparently Hawaiians love the spam like Germans love the Hasselhoff

[zoony]

I've never tried it. it's on my list of things to do

[Raub]

At McDonalds' in Hawaii, you can get Spam, rice, and eggs for breakfast.

[HogNose]

I actually love Spam. And if you compare the ingredients in Spam (pork shoulder and ham) to a hotdog (eyeballs, pig snouts, hooves, a-holes, etc), which one is really disgusting?

Yeah Spam actually isn't that bad but not something I would add to my diet anytime soon. I had a Spamburger w/ melted swiss once and though I felt as though I was slowly dying, it was pretty good.

[bu7ch]

At McDonalds' in Hawaii, you can get Spam, rice, and eggs for breakfast.

Really? Gross...My dad loves spam. Somehow I managed to miss the spam-loving gene.

[Skinsfan1311]

MMMMMmmmmmmm SPAM!!

Sliced thin and fried crispy.

Sliced thick, grilled 'til almost burnt and slathered with BBQ Sauce.

[tone_dubbz]

I went to a restaruant at the Ocean Front, and they had "SPAM SUSHI" on the menu. My friend/owner ordered it, but there is now way in hell I was going to taste it.

Now Spam with eggs in the morning, that I can do!!!!

[DRSmith]

Great now people are going to drive of the price of one the greatest foods ever canned

[Xameil]

I've always loved SPAM

[techboy]

.

[Titans&SkinsFan]

Spam is awesome...

spam and potatoes = yummy

spam coated with eggs = yummy

[NavyDave]

Why eat that **** when this area is overrun with plenty of tasty Venison?

[Xameil]

looks like its BBQ'd Spam for dinner tonight

lol

[NavyDave]

Before you know it Vienna Sausages and potted meat will top the must have list.