Pumpkin Spice - The Lost Spice Girl

In the early 90s a 6-girl pop group burst on the scene. They were known as the Spice Girls, and their songs were all over the radio. Their single "Wannabe" hit #1 in 30 countries. They were YUGE!

I hear some people saying, "Wait a tic! There were only 5 Spice girls."

Let's review.

Melanie Chisholm as "Sporty Spice"

Emma Bunton as "Baby Spice"

Melanie Brown as "Scary Spice"

Victoria Adams as "Posh Spice"

Geri Halliwell as "Ginger Spice"

That is how most of the world remembers the Spice Girls. But before they hit the big time, there was a 6th member - Poppy Goff, known as "Pumpkin Spice." Here she is outside a club in the 90s.

Poppy Goff - Pumpkin Spice

The original concept was each girl would adopt a different spice name. This started well enough with Ginger, and then Pumpkin, and then it went catawampus as the other four went off the rails, picking odd names like Sporty, Posh, Baby, and Scary spice as their nicknames. This started an internal conflict, resulting in the latter four voting Poppy "off the island" and out of the band.

The band went on a great run, and Pumpkin, although she tried to make it as a solo act, faded into obscurity. Every once in while on Halloween you will see someone dress up as Pumpkin Spice, but as time moves on, fewer folks remember her almost being a superstar.

But don't cry for Poppy. She got her revenge by entering the pumpkin spice business. Within a few years, she was the global cheerleader for pumpkin line extensions into every consumer food category. It all started with prepared drinks.

Pumpkin spice has been around for centuries. McCormick started offering a pre-mixed seasoning called Pumpkin Spice in the 1930s. But it was Goff, who when asked what she wanted, told them she really wanted a pumpkin spice latte. And from there, it was a meteoric rise, one consumer product after another introduced a pumpkin spice flavored version. And with every new product, Poppy got a piece of the action. 

Its is estimated that pumpkin spice products generated $800M in economic activity in 2023. It is likely to top a billion within a year making Poppy the world's first Pumpkin Spice Tycoon. You Go Girl!

Some may be scratching their head over this. I am not a coffee drinker, so I was ignorant of the growth pumpkin spice. I LOVE pumpkin pie during the holidays. If it weren't for baklava, pumpkin pie would be my favorite holiday desert. But baklava is better - don't argue with me.

Every August, pumpkin spice products start arriving at stores all over the world. You literally can flavor everything with pumpkin spice, and it will sell. Just take a look at these I found today.

Pumpkin Spice Is Everywhere!

And that is just the top of the pumpkin.

Natural AND Artificially Flavored - Good To Know!

Baked Goods Love Pumpkin Spice!

We owe everything to Poppy Goff (Pumpkin Spice) - the little girl with the BIG ORANGE VISION. Think of her whenever you eat or drink a pumpkin spiced flavored treat this Fall.

Get your official Pumpkin Spice T-shirt while they last!

Pumpkin Spice Knows What You Really, Really Want!

Happy Pumpkin Spice Season!

Something To Consider.

Coming to a theater near you - Spice World: Pumpkin Spice Strikes Back!