Spam Vs Walmart Great Value Luncheon Meat: Which Is The Better Value?

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Few canned meats spark a conversation quite like Spam (with its mysterious name) — the long-consumed foodstuff comes with both staunch fans and critics. Yet regardless of your personal stance on the food, it's clear that pork-based canned meats offer incredible practicality. Spam and other pork luncheon meats are safely shelf-stable for up to five years, all the while containing a satiating composition with a solid dose of protein. Such products are ready to eat right out of the can, but can also be heated into versatile preparations.

Perhaps most enticing, though, is the price point of such convenience. Whether you go for name brand Spam or a private label alternative — say Walmart's Great Value Original Pork Luncheon Meat – you can grab a 12-ounce package well under the $5 mark. For this reason, canned pork sales often increase amidst periods of grocery inflation, serving as an affordable meat source amidst budget-minded times. So while you're out shopping for food, you may wonder: What's the better value offering between Spam and Walmart's Great Value? After all, if shopping to save, you might as well go for the most affordable option. In a nutshell: Walmart's brand is cheaper, but you get more options with Spam itself.

Stop by Walmart, and you can grab a 12-ounce can of the classic Spam for an approachable $3.50 or $4 (depending on your location). The retailer also offers opportunities for bulk savings with a 12-pack, which comes out to just over $3 per can. Still, such prices are outshone by the retailer's private label alternative, which costs less than $2.50 for the same volume container.

Nutritionally, the two are nearly identical — both offer 7 grams of protein and 180 calories per 2-ounce serving. Even ingredient-wise, the two brands share many mutual components. The most notable distinction is Spam's inclusion of potato starch, designed to curtail the brand's gelatinous layer when heated. In terms of pure cost-performance, the Great Value lives up to its name.

Some consumers do cite a preference for Spam over the private label. "This Luncheon Meat has a very loose texture and does not hold its shape well ... The extra dollar or two is worth it — buy Spam instead," wrote Josie, a Walmart reviewer. Not to mention, there is a wider array of Spam flavors (which we have ranked from worst to best) to sample, including sweet and spicy, Korean BBQ, teriyaki and more. All are priced the same as the classic Spam; the name brand's steeper price does come with its own advantages (like not needing a separate sauce for your meal — even Great Value Teriyaki Sauce is around another $3).

Walmart carries thousands of Great Value products, with canned pork Luncheon Meat an especially well-priced offering. Because it's a private label item, it's substantially cheaper than Spam. The savings continue when buying the product in bulk; grab a dozen cans, and the Luncheon Meat works out to less than $2 per unit.

Great Value stocks several Luncheon Meat flavors, including a low-sodium, bacon-flavored, as well as a lite version, which is made with pork and chicken. All come priced the same amount, making it stress-free to sample different versions. Specifically, the Lite Luncheon Meat draws a positive reception: "To my surprise, I thought that the Great Value had better flavor," stated a Reddit poster when comparing the product to Spam Lite, which is often regarded as the worst Spam flavor. The low-sodium option also draws positive reviews. "I bought this Spam alternative (luncheon meat). Not only is it more affordable, [but] I can't believe I find that I like it better than Spam," stated Elizabeth, a Walmart reviewer. So while the options may be more limited than Spam, Great Value's price and quality draw many fans — so long as you avoid the original.