Hormel Foods has introduced SPAM Hot Honey, the first permanent new flavor added to the canned meat brand’s lineup in two years, and reaction from longtime fans has been mixed.
The company told Fox News Digital that the launch “taps into one of today’s fastest-growing flavor trends,” bringing “fresh excitement” to a brand that has been around for nearly 90 years.
“SPAM Hot Honey Flavored reflects the SPAM brand’s ongoing commitment to flavor innovation,” Hormel said. “Whether someone prefers sweet, spicy or savory flavor profiles, this variety delivers the best of both worlds with a balance of sweetness and heat.”
The new flavor is now available at select grocery retailers nationwide, joining a lineup that already includes more than 10 SPAM varieties.
To mark the release, Hormel partnered with Win Son Bakery in New York City, which is offering two limited-time menu items through Sept. 20 at its Brooklyn and Manhattan locations: a breakfast sandwich and a fan tuan, a traditional Taiwanese sticky rice roll, according to a press release.
Fans split online
Reaction from SPAM loyalists has ranged from curious to hostile. “I’d give it a shot,” one person wrote on Facebook. “I try every new SPAM that comes out,” another added.
Not everyone was on board. “I’m still a fan of just the original flavor,” one commenter wrote, adding, “Sweet and Spicy may taste good fried, but I will have to pass.” Another was blunter: “Absolutely NOT in any flavor!” On Reddit, one user simply said, “So tired of this hot honey trend everywhere.”
Part of a bigger trend
The SPAM release is the latest sign of hot honey’s spread across grocery shelves and restaurant menus. Chains and food brands have increasingly rolled out hot honey sauces, chips, bacon and other products as demand grows for “swicy” — sweet and spicy — flavors.
SPAM was introduced by Hormel in 1937 and became a household name during World War II, when more than 100 million pounds were shipped to feed Allied troops. The brand has since sold more than 9 billion cans worldwide and remains especially popular in Hawaii and parts of Asia.
