For the adventurous consumer? Pumpkin Spiced Spam released for autumn

19 Aug 2019 --- Limited edition Spam Pumpkin Spice is a unique blend of the iconic “meat in a can” with seasonal spices including cinnamon, clove, allspice and nutmeg. The new holiday fusion will be available for purchase exclusively online from September 23 on the Walmart and Spam websites.

With over 80 years in business, the company says Spam Pumpkin Spice can easily be incorporated into a number of dishes, from on-trend brunch recipes to an easy, pick-me-up snack. Pumpkin spice season has delighted consumers for years now and was recently identified as a key trend for 2019/2020.

Food influencers were invited to give the new product a try recently, and some were skeptical – at least initially. But after cooking it up, people like Dan Myers, who writes for the online The Daily Meal, was pleasantly surprised.

“It certainly had that soft texture that anyone who’s had Spam will be familiar with, as well as the expected salty, porky Spam flavor,” Myers wrote. “Cinnamon, clove, allspice and nutmeg shared center stage with the classic Spam flavor, however, along with a hint of sweetness.”

His tasters agreed, comparing it to breakfast sausage. “Honestly, it would go great with some eggs and waffles,” one said. Myers concurred, turning to information supplied by the brand’s managers at Hormel Foods. “Indeed, the Spam folks recommend incorporating it into dishes including waffles, frittatas, cornbread, panini or an autumn vegetable hash,” Myers concluded.

The release of the novel flavor combo follows the “adventurous consumer” trend outlined by Innova Market Insights. Consumer research (2018) found that 7 in 10 US consumers “love to discover new flavors.” 

The versatile new variety can be incorporated into a number of sweet and savory dishes, such as a topping to a warm waffle, an ingredient in an egg casserole or frittata, an addition to a breakfast sandwich, or baked into homemade cornbread or muffins.

Edited by Missy Green