Company profile: Hormel Foods (HRL)

Hormel Foods Corporation is an American food company based in Austin, Minnesota that produces Spam luncheon meat. 

• Traded as NYSE: HRL
• S&P 500 Component
• Industry Food processing
• Founded 1891; 125 years ago
• Founder George A. Hormel
• Website www.hormelfoods.com
• Competition:  Tyson Foods Inc. (TSN), Leucadia National Corp (LUK), Pilgrims Corp (PPC), Bridgford Foods Corp (BRID) 

Hormel sells food under many brands, including the Chi-Chi's, Dinty Moore, Farmer John, Herdez, Jennie-O, Lloyd's, Muscle Milk, Skippy, Spam, La Victoria and Stagg brands, as well as under its own name.

Hormel Foods has been in business for 125 years, and the company continues to transform its brands. Recent portfolio changes have included a slew of acquisitions in recent years in the healthy and organic space. In the last few years, Hormel has acquired Applegate, Muscle Milk, Wholly Guacamole, and most recently, Justin’s Specialty Nut Butter Brand.

Skippy peanut butter, a brand acquired in 2013, and Justin's, acquired in 2016

Spam
Spam was first introduced in 1937 and gained popularity worldwide after its use during World War II. By 2003, Spam was sold in 41 countries on six continents and trademarked in over 100 countries.

The ingredients of Spam vary according to variety and market; those of variety "Spam Classic" are: pork shoulder, ham, salt, water, potato starch, sugar, and sodium nitrite.

 Many varieties of Spam:

• Spam Classic – original flavor
• Spam Hot & Spicy – with Tabasco flavor
• Jalapeño Spam
• Spam with Black Pepper
• Spam Low Sodium – "25% less sodium"
• Spam Lite – "33% fewer calories, 25% less sodium, and 50% less fat" – made from pork shoulder meat, ham, and mechanically separated chicken
• Spam Oven Roasted Turkey
• Spam Hickory Smoked
• Spam Spread 
• Spam Bacon

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