Would You Eat a Canned Sandwich? How About Investing Your Retirement in Them?

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How would you feel if you and a group of other investors had contributed a total of $145 million into what you thought were real estate investments, only to later find out that instead a huge portion of that money had been put into the development of “Candwiches” and other equally odd and questionable products?

That’s exactly what happened to a group of investors in Utah after Travis L. Wright offered them returns of up to 24% on real estate investments. Obviously promised returns that high should have been their first clue that something was fishy, but evidently Utah investors are known to be näive “to the point of losing their shirts, which makes them easy prey.” I guess the investors should be thankful that the Candwich is a real product and not oceanfront property in say  — Arizona, but let’s think about the concept of a canned sandwich for just a moment…

I am trying to picture it, but it is wrong on so many levels that I just don’t even know where to start: Bread and filling, stored together in a soda can ready to eat? Yuck!

According to Mark Kirkland, the president of Mark One Foods and also the man who says he “patented the idea of putting solid food in a beverage container with the slogan, “Quick & Tasty, Ready to Eat,” …  Mr. Wright promised full financial backing for Candwich production that never really materialized even as investors did. He said he believed that canned sandwiches would ultimately sell, and hoped to go into production later this year.”

With an “excellent” shelf life (according to Mr. Kirkland), these might be just the thing for neighborhood bomb shelters or kids with bullet-proof stomachs. But wasn’t whatever niche there was for that kind of item already filled by SPAM? Do we really need another meal in a can? 😛

Source: New York Times

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About the Author

Judie Lipsett Stanford
Judie is the co-owner and Editor-in-Chief of Gear Diary, which she founded in September 2006. She got her start in 1999 writing software reviews at the now-defunct smaller.com; from mid-2000 through 2006, she wrote hardware reviews for and co-edited at The Gadgeteer. A recipient of the Sigma Kappa Colby Award for Technology, Judie has written for or been profiled by nationally known sites and magazines, and she has served on multiple industry hardware and software award panels. She is best known for her device-agnostic approach, enjoyment of exploring tech, gadgets, and gear, and her deep-diving, jargon-free reviews.

3 Comments on "Would You Eat a Canned Sandwich? How About Investing Your Retirement in Them?"

  1. Joel McLaughlin | July 8, 2010 at 7:26 pm |

    Actually, there was another company that had lunchable style meals but for adults. They were essentially a wrap sandwich kit, a bottle of water, fruit leather, a snack size candybar and a silverware/napkin packet. They were cheap and they were great. Perfect for putting in your daypack on a hike. If you freeze the, they would be thawed by lunch time! Wish I remembered the brand name.

    Our military has been eating food like this for quite some time in the form of MRE’s. They are very handy to have. You can buy non military versions all over the internet.

  2. Joel McLaughlin | July 8, 2010 at 7:32 pm |

    Oh and all of that was in a can about the size of a tennisball can.

  3. Would You Eat a Canned Sandwich? How About Investing Your Retirement in Them? http://bit.ly/cU7XM3

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