Great article on SPAM (the "meat") taking a hit for SPAM (junk e-mail)

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

Heavy Metal Madness: Spam® vs. spam
Can a famous brand name survive when language changes and it becomes the symbol of something hated around the world? Gene Gable thinks so, and credits graphic design and packaging consistency as two of the reasons we still love Spam®.

http://www.creativepro.com/story/feature/23293.html

By Gene Gable, creativepro.com contributing editor
Monday, August 22, 2005



When I was growing up, we always seemed to have a can of the Hormel meat-product Spam® in the cupboard, though I'm not sure we ever ate any. Our can collection grew slightly in the early 1960s when most families in America put aside a few gallons of water, a first-aid kit, some powdered milk, and Spam® so they could survive the coming nuclear attacks. These stockpiles were mostly stored in basements, but living on the West coast (where basements are not as common), our make-believe bomb shelter was in a hallway that had no windows. So the Spam® cans sat in a linen closet. Every time I needed a towel, the cans were a subtle reminder that we would be among the lucky ones. We had enough food to last at least a week, which by all accounts would be plenty of time to get past the radiation effects of a nuclear bomb hitting Los Angeles. My father also had a gun so he could shoot less-prepared neighbors trying to steal our Spam®.



Whether you actually eat it or simply store it for emergencies, Spam® has been a staple of American food larders since its introduction by Hormel in 1937. The Spam® logo and can are among the most successful package designs in history, and whether it was from tremendous insight, neglect, or chance, the Hormel Company managed to leave those things virtually intact for more than 60 years. That decision probably saved the brand from extinction, and when, in the e-mail age, the word "spam" took on an evil meaning, Hormel decided to stay the course and keep their brand front-and-center.



In 1891 George A. Hormel founded his meat-products company in Austin, Minnesota, specializing in pork processing. Being the man who introduced the world's first canned ham, you can imagine the rapid success George enjoyed. By 1924 the company was slaughtering more than 1 million pigs a year and supplying people around the world with inexpensive canned meat products. One of Hormel's early innovations was a distribution system of his own, which had salesman driving "Sausage Trucks" around the country delivering meat where needed.



By 1936, George Hormel had retired, and his son Jay was running the company. Always mindful of efficiency, Jay was looking for a way to use more of the pork "shoulder" meat that was not currently being consumed. (Why more people weren't eating tasteless, boney pig shoulders is a mystery to me.) He came up with a way of grinding the meat to conceal the real texture and added other pork products and spices (salt seems to be the main ingredient) to give it flavor. Thus, Hormel Spiced Ham was born. It was sold in the shape of a loaf for easy sandwich slicing.

[NYC]

1. My tribute to Spam:

A friend of mine mailed me a can of Spam. I didn't want to eat it, so I drew a picture of it (watercolor).

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

2. Wise decision. Draw it, don't eat it.

My mom fixed it every once in a while when I was a kid.

I got a big "nostalgia wave" a couple of years ago while in the supermarket and bought a can. Brought it home, sliced it up, prepared to cook it in a non-stick pan with no added oil or fat (not even "Pam" cooking spray).

Within a few minutes a RANK grease smell filled the house. I figured OK, this is processed meat, no worries...

So I tried to take a really small bite and it tasted worse than it smelled. I hate to waste food, but I made an exception in this case...out it went.

The next time nostalgia hits, I'll think twice.

:toast:

[NYC]

6. I have another friend

who knows a man who eats Spam with a spoon right out of the can when he travels. That's how much he likes it.

I think Spam is all or nothing. You either like it, or you wouldn't eat it under any circumstances.

Spam has enough consumers. I think they sold their billionth can or something. They have opened a Spam museum, sell Spam calendars, Spam earrings and other trinkets.

http://www.spam.com/

Spam souvenir items:
http://www.spamgift.com/ProductsList.aspx?CategoryId=25

They have quite a following.

[KamaAina]

3. We loves us some Spam out here!

The "meat", as you put it, turns up in our lunch bentos. You can get it at McDonald's for breakfast. At least one establishment features it as a pizza topping. I'm still waiting, however, for the Spam smoothie... :puke:

But for all that, we must bow down before the people of Guam when it comes to Spamophilia. They eat more of the "meat" per capita than any place else on the planet. (The electricity there has a habit of going out during typhoons, and staying out for days afterward.) There is even a special garlic Spam that is made just for the Guam market!

[trackfan]

4. Hey, that Mary Butler is kind of fine.

[asthmaticeog]

5. Ewwww, she's got a fivehead!

[ChoralScholar]

7. Spam's okay... but this made me smile...

[trof]

8. I LUVS SPAM. Thanks for the article.

I luvs me some fried SPAM sandwiches and fried SPAM and eggs.
I am a prole.
;-)