Canned soup

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Canned soup is soup that comes packaged in a can. It can be condensed, in which case it is prepared by adding water (or sometimes milk), or it can be ready-to-eat, meaning that it only needs to be warmed. Canned soup can be prepared by heating in a pan or in the microwave. Campbell's is one of the largest producers of canned soup in the world and pioneered the industry by perfecting the method for condensing soup. The soups are a convenience product that make quick, easy meals for those who are unable or unwilling to cook from scratch. They are also often used as a simple base for homemade soups, with the consumer adding anything from a few vegetables to eggs, cream and pasta.

Campbell's pioneered condensed soup, which dominated the market until recent years. Condensing soup allowed it to be packed in a smaller can and sold more inexpensively. The soup is usually doubled in volume by adding "a can full" of water or milk (about 10 ounces). These soups seemed a godsend to working mothers, as soup often took all day to prepare from scratch. Vegetable and tomato soups were among the most popular early on. Campbells also introduced a soup called Chicken Soup with Noodles, a product that they were about to discontinue. A last ditch effort was made to revive the soup by advertising it on the Amos and Andy show. The actors pitching the soup repeatedly mispronounced the name as "Chicken Noodle Soup". The company was inundated with requests for information on where to buy Chicken Noodle Soup. The comapny wisely changed the soup's name and it quickly became the most popular canned soup sold. Like other condensed soups, Chicken Noodle Soup, is largely broth with a small amount of chicken and noodles. Campbell's dominates the condensed soup market with private labels offering less expensive versions of the most popular soups.

In recent years, the canned soup market has exploded in so-called "ready to eat" soups, soups which require no additional water to make. As of 2006, Campbells has 2 lines of ready to eat soups, Selects and Chunky, often offered in regular and "Healthy Requests" recipes, the later having less salt and/or calories. Progresso, Heatlhy Choice, and private labels all offer ready to eat soups as well. Microwavable bowls have expanded the ready to eat canned soup market even more. The plastic microwaveable bowls offer conveinience in the workplace and are popular lunch items.