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icarus: Thanks for that link to "Survival Acres" ---- I usually keep up to date on Mountain House products, but those prices beat my (now "old") supplier all to hell! Thanks for sharing a good resource.

I just bought 6 Salisbury Steak ones at Big Lots, in Colonial Heights, Va. for 1.35 each. No problems. Maybe they were .001 oz. under net wgt. Hmmm? I guess I'll have to go buy a loaf of Merita bread now.

Damn, that's a great price!


Don't forget the Merlo wine to go with them `steaks & bread!

Our local Big Lots had them for $1.35, also. So, I stocked up on a few. I take them for lunch at work. I usually have some canned fruit with them for dessert. Sometimes, I'll have an appetizer of crackers and sardines first. As has been mentioned, one of the "meals" is not quite a meal in itself.

Hormel Foods
FACT SHEET
Product Description:

Introducing a new line of Hormel Compleats - created for a healthy lifestyle.

The new line of Hormel Compleats offers a convenient, microwaveable lunch that satisfies the desire for a fast, hot yet healthy meal. Each meal provides sustenance with lean meat and hearty vegetables and/or grains, such as pasta, potatoes or rice.

Hormel Compleats utilize shelf-stable technology pioneered by Hormel Foods since 1987 to provide a quick, protein-rich meal solution for busy adults. There’s no need to refrigerate or freeze Hormel Compleats and the meals are ready in 90 seconds.

http://www.hormelfoods.com/newsroom/bra ... alsFS.aspx

For those interested in the historical context of Hormel's retort food business, the Compleats brand is the most recent name for this line of retort food products. The line was originally marketed under the name of Top Shelf in the late 80's, then Dinty Moore American Classics, and then simply under the name of Hormel with the minimal packaging concept, before the adaptation of the Compleats branding last year with the Beef Stew selection remaining under the brand name of Dinty Moore Microwave Bowls. The single serving tray was also used briefly in a boxed version under their Stagg's branding for chili. The Stagg's brand also uses retort technology for their boxed chili line of products.

While not as well known, the Jenny Craig company has also been marketing retort trays for many of their weight-loss entrees since the early 90's. And as was mentioned in the Wornick Chap. 11 release, NutriSystems also sells a number of retort items as components of their weight-loss programs.

jfko6 wrote:Hormel Compleats utilize shelf-stable technology pioneered by Hormel Foods since 1987

Is that Stagg chili the same stuff I see in little rectangular boxes in the grocery store? I've always been curious about that packaging but haven't tried any of the products yet.

I've only seen the Staggs chilli tins over here in the UK...

Spam is licensed to a different manufacturer over here - would appear that there aren't that many shelfstable items available here; but they might come in useful.

Yes, it's the same stuff. The Stagg's chili in the 10oz. retort trays is no longer being marketed, I picked some up a couple of years ago. They were packaged in the rectangular boxes like the way Top Shelf and Dinty Moore American Classics were packaged.

kman wrote:Is that Stagg chili the same stuff I see in little rectangular boxes in the grocery store? I've always been curious about that packaging but haven't tried any of the products yet.

Actually Stagg's is just another Hormel brand name. As far as I know, SPAM is a Hormel brand all over the world. Actually, I think you'll find shelf stable foods to be a major staple in the UK, whether they be in cans or retort packaged. The popularity of shelf stable foods seems to have raised major concerns amongst manu nuitritionists in the UK. You may find many of the retort items referred to as "ready meal" items. They're more widely accepted in Europe and Asia than in the U.S. Another item that is quite common in Europe (though maybe not in the UK) is aseptically packaged dairy products like UHT milk, and it is almost impossible to find with any regularity in the U.S.

alcockell wrote:I've only seen the Staggs chilli tins over here in the UK...

Spam is licensed to a different manufacturer over here - would appear that there aren't that many shelfstable items available here; but they might come in useful.