When Jay C. Hormel developed the first canned meat that did not require refrigeration, he marketed it as "Hormel Spiced Ham." Painfully low sales figures and emerging competition in the canned meat market led Hormel to spring into action, renaming the product "Spam," which was launched in 1937. During World War II, Spam became a staple in American diets at home and overseas since it was not rationed as meat and was very portable.