Sales of canned cooked meat Spam have reached a record high for the seventh year in 2021 despite pandemic-related issues. As a result, Hormel, the company behind the best-selling brand, generated record sales of $3.5bn in the three months ending in October. The company’s CEO Jim Snee said that they are planning to expand the range of Spam products next year. “We are also beginning work on another expansion for the Spam family of products scheduled to be operational in 2023,” he said.

The supply chain challenges did not stop the brand from securing the Planters peanut brand in June, which saw net sales of $11.4 billion, up 19% compared with 2020. Spam has long been a beloved product and in the Asia-Pacific region. In Hawaii, the canned ham is transformed into Spam Musubi– a sushi-like dish. The canned meat also gained popularity in South Korea and is the key ingredient of budae jjigae, or army stew. Moreover, tins of Spam are given as gifts for the Lunar New Year, sometimes presented in special packaging as part of a promotion for the holiday. Spam was created in 1937 by Hormel Foods Corporation. Skippy peanut butter is also one of Hormel’s known brands.