Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing, Catherine King, announced today that Australia’s leading food manufacturers and retailers have voluntarily agreed to reduce salt levels in soup products over the next three years. The agreement between the Australian Government’s Food and Health Dialogue and leading manufacturers and retailers was reached in Canberra this morning. Leading manufacturers Unilever, Heinz, Campbell Arnotts and Nestle, along with major retailers Woolworths, Coles and... ...Read more »

HJ Heinz has entered the instant soup category in the UK with Heinz Squeeze & Stir, a concentrated purée soup. The soup is made from a concentrated purée available in lightweight, squeezable sachets, with a RRP of GBP0.59 (US$0.94). Consumers have to squeeze the soup into a cup, add boiling water and stir. The Heinz Squeeze & Stir range comprises Cream of Tomato; Mediterranean Vegetable; and Cream of Tomato with Basil and Minestrone lines. It will go on sale this month. Matthew Cullum,... ...Read more »

Campbell Soup Co. has reversed a trend of downward earnings in its third quarter, booking an increase in profits as snack and international sales propelled gains. The US soup maker revealed today (23 May) that net earnings for the three months ended 1 May totalled US$187m, up from $168m in the comparable period of last year. Sales edged up 0.6% to $1.81bn in the period, as the company’s snacks and international units (including increased sales in Australia due to the high dollar and “solid... ...Read more »

The Australian Government Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing, Catherine King, today chaired the sixth meeting of the Food and Health Dialogue. The Dialogue brings together government, industry and public health groups with the aim of addressing poor dietary habits and making healthier food choices easier and more accessible for all Australians. The Dialogue is undertaking, as its primary activity, action on food innovation. This includes a voluntary reformulation program to reduce risk-associated... ...Read more »

Pasta and sauce giant La Gina has announced two additions to its La Zuppa microwaveable soup range, designed to appeal to fresh food lovers and health conscious customers. The two new soups, Moroccan Pumpkin with Chickpeas and Hearty Chicken and Vegetable with Wholegrain Rice, will be introduced in time for the product category’s strongest winter months. “We have been working hard to develop and refine new, unique and healthy flavours for La Zuppa that deliver the high quality product consumers... ...Read more »

US food group Campbell Soup Co. yesterday cut its full-year profit targets after a weak first quarter when its promotions did not pay off. Campbell, part-way through the key season for soup sales, now expects annual EBIT to be “comparable” to last year, a downgrade from its previous target of a rise of 4-5%. The soup maker, also owner of Australian iconic biscuit brand Arnotts, is now targeting a 2-4% increase in earnings per share, down from growth of 5-7%. It sees net sales rising by... ...Read more »

Campbell Soup Co. has launched two limited-edition soups into 10 cities in the US. The US food group said yesterday that the two “artisanal” soups would go on sale “while supplies last” at select supermarkets in cities including Washington DC, Cleveland and Seattle. The lines – Sun-Ripened Yellow Tomato soup and Harvest Orange Tomato – are made with yellow and orange tomatoes, which the company uses in its V8 V-Fusion vegetable and fruit juices. “These two... ...Read more »

Campbell Soup Co. yesterday (7 September) outlined the details of its first-ever umbrella soup campaign for all its brands on sale in the US.The marketing push, which comes under the tagline “It’s Amazing What Soup Can Do”, will see Campbell spend over US$100m to breathe fresh life into its soup business in the US, which has seen sales decline in recent months. On Friday, Campbell said its US soup sales had fallen 5% in the three months to 1 August. Over the 12 months to the start... ...Read more »

Campbell Soup Co has delivered strong earnings growth in what it described as a “challenging year”.For the twelve-month period, net earnings amounted to US$844m compared to $736m in the prior year period. Sales edged up 1% to $7.67bn, while EBIT climbed to $1.35bn from $1.18bn in the prior year. Douglas Conant, Campbell’s president and CEO, said: “In a challenging year, we delivered strong earnings growth, overcoming softer-than-expected sales, particularly in our US soup... ...Read more »

New Zesty Addition Cuts the Salt, Keeps the KickCampbell Soup Company is bringing on the heat to low-sodium foods with the introduction of V8Spicy Hot Low Sodium100% vegetable juice. With 140 milligrams of sodium in each 8-ounce glass, this deliciously-zesty juice delivers bold taste with less salt while still serving up two full servings of vegetables (1 cup) and 50 calories. In fact, V8Spicy Hot Low Sodiumjuice displays the American Heart Association heart-check mark and meets the U.S. government... ...Read more »