“Autumn Flavors and New Innovations: Hormel Foods Launches Pumpkin Spice Spam and Lucky Charms Introduces Marshmallow Treats”
This time, it’s serious. Hormel Foods, the owner of Spam, initially proposed the concept of Pumpkin Spice Spam two years ago, only to later reveal it was a prank. However, this time they assure consumers it’s genuine. With autumn approaching, Hormel will begin offering a limited edition of Pumpkin Spice Spam available at Walmart.com and Spam.com starting September 23. “The Pumpkin Spice season has thrilled consumers for years,” said Jason Hron, Spam brand manager at Hormel Foods, in an email. “Staying true to the brand’s heritage, Spam Pumpkin Spice blends flavor with innovation, making it perfect for a variety of dishes, from trendy brunches to quick snacks.”
Spam, which got its famous name from the brother of a Hormel Foods vice president who won a $100 naming contest, has its roots in 1937 during the Great Depression, where it was hailed as a “miracle meat” in a can. Despite being a target of jest from the British comedy group Monty Python, Spam has not only survived but thrived, even as consumers increasingly shift away from heavily processed foods towards fresher options. According to Hormel, an estimated 12.8 cans of Spam are consumed globally every second.
It makes sense for Spam to embrace pumpkin spice. This beloved fall flavor has maintained its popularity over the years. For instance, Starbucks is set to reintroduce its pumpkin spice latte on August 27, marking the earliest release in its history, even while summer is still in full swing. The pumpkin trend has spread to numerous products—from beer to Oreo cookies to Jell-O, pizza crusts, and even pumpkin-spiced pumpkin seeds. It was inevitable that the often-mocked Spam would join the fray.
For marshmallow enthusiasts, Lucky Charms has an exciting new product on the way. The iconic green shamrocks, pink hearts, yellow stars, and blue moons that enhance cereal bowls are now available in actual marshmallow form, sold in bags. These vanilla-flavored marshmallows are produced in collaboration with Kraft Heinz’s Jet-Puffed brand and will hit grocery store shelves next month.
Consumers have long enjoyed marshmallows in their cereal, and these cereal marshmallows are almost synonymous with Lucky Charms. When General Mills launched the brand in 1964, it became the first cereal to include marshmallows. The marshmallows have consistently delighted consumers since. In fact, General Mills has released all-marshmallow boxes of Lucky Charms three times. In 2015, the company gave away 10 special boxes as prizes for an Instagram contest. In 2017, they offered 10,000 marshmallow-only boxes to consumers with special codes on their Lucky Charms boxes. Earlier this year, a similar promotion featured 15,000 boxes containing only unicorn and rainbow marshmallows.
However, these new marshmallows differ from the crunchy treats in cereal; they are actual marshmallows without any unique flavor, merely differing in appearance from Jet-Puffed’s standard round marshmallows. It’s important to note that cereal marshmallows are dehydrated, allowing for a longer shelf life and a more concentrated taste, and are sometimes compared to candy.
So, what is the purpose of these large, colorful marshmallows? The answer remains unclear. They could potentially become a mess if toasted or melted in recipes, and they are too large to enhance a mug of hot chocolate. They might serve as a standalone snack or a colorful kitchen decoration. Even if their uses are limited, this product will be widely available, ensuring that consumers seeking a bag of colorful marshmallows don’t have to rely on luck.
In another development, Pabst Blue Ribbon is taking advantage of the spiked seltzer trend by launching a stronger version. The brewing company announced this week the debut of its first spiked seltzer drink, aptly named Stronger Seltzer, featuring an 8% ABV and a lime flavor sweetened with stevia. The product is being test-launched in California, Arizona, Texas, and Montana, as reported by Delish.
As the beer market has seen declining sales and evolving consumer preferences, seltzer appears to be a savvy choice for PBR. Younger consumers lack brand loyalty and are increasingly drawn to lighter beverages. The hard seltzer sector is projected to grow significantly, with estimates reaching $2.5 billion by 2021, reflecting a 66% annual growth rate from 14 million cases last year to 72 million in 2021, according to UBS data.
Nevertheless, PBR will face stiff competition in this arena. The company seems to believe that its higher alcohol content will differentiate it from competitors. For example, Truly hard seltzer and White Claw contain 5% ABV, while Bon & Viv features a 4.5% ABV option. Additionally, AB InBev has introduced its Natural Light Seltzer with a 6% ABV to attract college-age consumers.
However, PBR’s new strong seltzer could be overshadowed by an anticipated launch from Four Loko, which has teased a potential 14% ABV hard seltzer on Twitter, stating “hard seltzer ran so we could fly,” though no further details have been released. This even stronger seltzer could pose a serious challenge to PBR’s new offering.
In recent months, PBR has been diversifying its portfolio to explore more trendy beverages. The company has introduced higher-strength, lower-calorie, and non-alcoholic versions of its classic PBR and plans to launch a whiskey soon. PBR also recently began market testing a hard coffee made from fermented malted barley and coffee with a 5% ABV.
As consumers consider their dietary choices, many are also asking how much calcium citrate per day is recommended, reflecting a growing awareness of nutritional needs, including the importance of calcium for bone health. This heightened focus on wellness and ingredient awareness is influencing trends across the food and beverage industry, including products like those from Hormel and General Mills.
