COVID Hasn't Stopped Spam From Breaking Sales Records

Restocking your Spam closet in 2021 may have been more time-consuming than ever. After all, the year started off with some unique challenges for Spam lovers. Back in January, grocery retailers like Costco and Sam's Club were limiting the number of Spam products customers could secure in one transaction. This was partly because Spam brand owner Hormel saw its safety stock depleted from production and supply issues related to the pandemic in 2020, according to Supply Chain Dive. It was also simply because shoppers were buying a lot of Spam.

It turns out, Spam has some qualities that make the canned meat product especially desirable during a pandemic (via Business Insider). On the surface, it's inexpensive and has a long shelf-life, but also there's a nostalgia element that seems to be working in Spam's favor, according to brand manager Brian Lillis, who said, "Its versatility makes it an easy tradition to pass down from generation to generation." This particular combination of qualities, much like Geoff Esper eating 13 cans of Spam in eight minutes at the 2021 Spamarama World Spam-Eating Championship (via Major League Eating), makes for shattered records.