SPAM® family of products – World War II
SPAM® A Timeless Brand:
Since 1937, millions of people have enjoyed the distinct savory and salty-sweet taste of SPAM® alone or as part of a delicious dish, such as SPAM® and eggs, SPAMBURGER® Hamburger and SPAM® Musubi, just to name a few.
It is one of the few products in the world that is known by a common brand name in all languages. The SPAM trademark is registered in more than 100 countries worldwide, and the product is sold in nearly 50 nations, from Andorra to Zimbabwe.
SPAM® in World War II:
During World War II, SPAM® became a Lend-Lease commodity and contributed to the feeding of allied civilians and the armed forces. If military medals had been awarded to food products, SPAM® would surely have walked off with the top honors.
If it is true that an army travels on its stomach, the allied forces most certainly traveled the road to victory on stomachs filled with SPAM®. Meat and food were an important part of the United States contributions to the total war effort. Canned meat became of particular importance, and SPAM® was singled out as a product that could be shipped anywhere in the world without refrigeration. The authentic 12-ounce can of SPAM® was reserved for use by allied civilian populations and a new larger 6-pound luncheon meat was created for military shipments.
SPAM® became a staple in pantries on the home front as well as the battlefield. The famous U.S. broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow commented in 1942, “This is London. Although the Christmas table will not be lavish, there will be SPAM® luncheon meat for everyone.”
Because of its role in providing sustenance during the War, there was a warm and responsive feeling that SPAM® “belonged” to everyone everywhere in the world.
SPAM® Today:
SPAM® recently celebrated its 70th anniversary and is still as relevant today as it was when it was first introduced. To date, nearly seven billion cans of SPAM® have been enjoyed around the world.
The SPAM® family of products offers storage-friendly 7-ounce and 12-ounce cans and is sold in a variety of unique and fun flavors including: Classic, Lite, Less Sodium, Hickory Smoke Flavored, Oven Roasted Turkey, Hot & Spicy, SPAM® with Cheese, SPAM® with Bacon and SPAM® Spread.
SPAM® Singles are also available in 3-ounce varieties of Classic and Lite.