Hormel Opens SPAM Museum

Hormel Foods Corporation has opened the SPAM Museum in downtown Austin, Minn.

The 14,000 square foot museum celebrates the 79-year history of the iconic SPAM family of products and the 125-year history of Hormel Foods. It houses a mix of galleries from the previous location and new experiences, including the iconic product’s popularity around the globe, the SPAM brand today and its history with the military.

“We are excited to open the SPAM Museum in downtown Austin and share this new, interactive experience with SPAM fans across the globe,” says Nicole L. Behne, marketing director, Grocery Products at Hormel Foods. “As we prepare to celebrate the 125th anniversary of our company in Austin, throughout the country and the world, this new SPAM Museum will be a great way for people to connect with the iconic SPAM products and Hormel Foods.”

The new SPAM Museum is located in the heart of downtown Austin and the company hopes this will increase patronage for the surrounding businesses. “It was important for Hormel Foods to have the museum in downtown Austin to support its growth and see this area become a destination for both city residents and tourists,” says Savile C. Lord, manager, SPAM Museum and community relations at Hormel Foods. “We hope that the new downtown location will allow people to see all that Austin has to offer including great restaurants and shopping.”

The SPAM Museum is located at 101 3rd Avenue NE, Austin, Minn., and is open seven days a week.

In other SPAM news, Hormel is once again hitting the road this summer with its SPAMERICAN Tour Bus. This year Hormel is teaming up with Operation Gratitude and veteran and Food Network host Sunny Anderson, with the goal of bringing Operation Gratitude's letter writing campaign into 16 communities and sending the two millionth care package in 2018. Hormel pledges a $1.00 donation for every letter written in-market and online at SPAM.com. Each letter will be included in a care package assembled by volunteers, and sent to troops overseas, as well as to new recruits, veterans and first-responders here at home.

The campaign kicks off on April 23 at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. Other stops include Dallas, San Diego, San Francisco, Denver, Chicago, Minneapolis, Baton Rouge and Hormel's hometown of Austin, Minn., where it will be stationed July 28-29 as part of Hormel Foods 125th Anniversary celebration.

"We're honored to partner with Operation Gratitude for the return of the SPAMERICAN Tour," says Jennifer L. Nolander, SPAM brand manager. "The SPAM brand has a long tradition of supporting our nation's military at home and abroad beginning with World War II, and we are honored to bring aboard a veteran like Sunny Anderson to help Operation Gratitude achieve its mission by providing an easy way for communities to give back to those who proudly serve us everyday."

Emily Rich, director of national development at Operation Gratitude says, "Each year, Operation Gratitude sends over 200,000 Care Packages to our nation's heroes, and out of all the items included in these packages, among the most cherished are the hand-written notes and letters. By working with SPAM brand, we have the chance to bring our letter-writing campaign to communities across the country."

Anderson adds, "As a host and passionate foodie who likes to experiment with taste and flavor, I've long been a fan of the creative possibilities that come from working with SPAM products. My recipe, Operation SPAM Gravy with Biscuits, was inspired by my Southern heritage and military brat roots. I think it really captures the spirit of this year's SPAMERICAN Tour. As an Air Force veteran, it means a lot to team up with Operation Gratitude's mission, offering thousands of people the opporutnity to send notes of support and appreciation to the brave men and women who serve our country."