Spam canned meat sales

Netflix releasing more shows, Americans buying more cans of Spam. The streaming service and the canned-pork industry, marching forward together. Somewhere a person is watching a Netflix documentary about Hawaii and eating a Spam musubi for dinner. The system is, again, closed.

Netflix originals expanded as the streaming wars escalated, with the company commissioning hundreds of titles per year by the late 2010s. Spam sales grew from about 144 million cans annually in the early 2010s to a record 240 million during the pandemic, with sustained higher levels since as inflation and protein-cost concerns kept cheaper shelf-stable meats relevant. Both reflect the same household economics: as time and disposable income squeezed, cheaper entertainment and cheaper protein both expanded their footprint. The same kitchen and the same couch.

Recession-resistant categories share a decade. Cheap protein and cheap drama, both kept their seats.