Eight billion cans sold and counting...

(EAST LANSING, MICH.) While you might think of Spam as a basic canned meat, it’s actually one of the greatest business success stories of all time: Since Hormel Foods Corporation launched the affordable, canned pork product in 1937, it’s sold over eight billion cans in 44 countries around the world.

Spam’s birthday is July 5th. It’s fitting that this comes only a day after the birthday of the United States. The product is up there with Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and Pizza Hut as one of the most distinctive American brands of all time.

Originally published on theconversation.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.