Campbell Soup Company facts for kids
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Entrance to Campbell's headquarters in Camden
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Trade name
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Campbell's |
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| Traded as |
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| Industry | Food processing |
| Founded | 1869 |
| Founder | Joseph A. Campbell |
| Headquarters | Camden, New Jersey, U.S. |
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Key people
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Mark Clouse (President & CEO) |
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| Revenue |  US$8.691 billion (2020) |
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Operating income
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US$1.107 billion (2020) |
| US$1.628 billion (2020) |
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| Total assets |  US$12.372 billion (2020) |
| Total equity | US$2.569 billion (2020) |
| Owner | Mary Alice Dorrance Malone (15%) |
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Number of employees
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19,000 (2020) |
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The Campbell Soup Company, also known as Campbell's, is a famous American company. It's best known for its classic canned soups. Over the years, Campbell's has grown a lot by joining with other companies. Now, it's one of the biggest food companies in the United States.
Campbell's makes many different products. These include soups, other canned foods, baked goods, drinks, and snacks. You might know some of its other brands like Pepperidge Farm, Snyder's of Hanover, and V8. The company's main office is in Camden, New Jersey.
The famous red-and-white can design used by Campbell's has become a symbol of America. It even inspired famous artist Andy Warhol to create his well-known Campbell's Soup Cans art series.
Contents
History of Campbell's
How Campbell's Started
The Campbell Soup Company began in 1869. It was started by Joseph A. Campbell, who sold fruit, and Abraham Anderson, who made iceboxes. They first made canned tomatoes, vegetables, jellies, soups, and condiments.
In 1876, Abraham Anderson left the company. It was then called the "Joseph A. Campbell Preserve Company."
Joseph Campbell retired in 1894. Then, Arthur Dorrance became the company president. In 1897, John T. Dorrance, Arthur's nephew, joined the company. He was a chemist who studied at top universities. John Dorrance found a way to make soup condensed. This meant he removed half the water, making the soup lighter and cheaper to ship. He later became the company president and bought out the Campbell family.
In 1898, a Campbell's executive named Herberton Williams suggested the famous red and white colors. He liked the bright red uniforms of the Cornell University football team. The can's design, with its red and white colors and a bronze medal seal from the 1900 Paris Exhibition, has stayed almost the same ever since.
Growing Under New Leaders
Campbell Soup became a huge food company thanks to leaders like William Beverly Murphy. He was president and CEO from 1953 to 1972. During his time, the company became publicly owned. This means people could buy shares in the company. He also added many new brands, like Pepperidge Farm breads and cookies, Franco-American pastas, V8 vegetable juices, and Swanson broths.
Campbell Soup has always spent a lot on advertising. Many old ads are now valuable collector's items. You might know the "Campbell's Kids" characters, designed by Grace Drayton. Even future President Ronald Reagan was a spokesman for V8 juice when Campbell's bought the brand in 1948.
The company also sponsored famous radio shows. One was The Campbell Playhouse, hosted by Orson Welles. This show became famous after its realistic broadcast of The War of the Worlds caused a stir!
Factory Closures
In 1989, Campbell's announced it would close its first factory in Camden, New Jersey. Production stopped in 1991, and the building was taken down. Other plants in Maryland and Tennessee also closed.
These closures meant about 2,800 jobs were lost. Campbell's helped the workers by giving them payments and medical benefits. Production then moved to other plants in Ohio, Texas, and North Carolina.
Recent Company News
In 2008, Campbell Soup products in the UK and Ireland were rebranded. This happened because the company that owned the license to sell Campbell's there changed its name. However, Campbell's returned to the UK market in 2011, selling both canned and packet soups.
Campbell's is still an important part of Camden, New Jersey. They often help with charity events in the community. In 2009, they even built a new, bigger headquarters in the city.
In 2010, Campbell's started selling special halal soups in Canada. These soups are prepared according to Islamic law.
Campbell's has been buying other companies to grow. In 2012, they bought Bolthouse Farms, which makes juices and baby carrots. In 2013, they acquired Kelsen Group, a Danish company known for baked goods. This helped Campbell's expand into countries like China.
In 2015, they bought Garden Fresh Gourmet, a salsa maker. This helped them get into fresh and organic foods. In 2017, they bought Pacific Foods and the snack company Snyder's-Lance. This was the biggest deal in Campbell's history!
In 2018, Campbell's announced its only Canadian factory in Toronto would close. Production moved to US factories, and 380 jobs were lost.
Denise Morrison was the company's president and CEO from 2011 to 2018. In 2019, Mark Clouse became the new CEO.
Campbell's also sold some of its brands, like Kelsen Group and Arnott's Biscuits, in 2019. In 2023, Campbell's acquired Sovos Brands, another food manufacturer.
Pop Art and Campbell's
In 1962, the famous artist Andy Warhol used the look of Campbell's soup cans in his pop art series. He made many silkscreens of the cans. At first, they looked exactly like real cans. Later, he experimented with different colors and styles. These soup can artworks have become very famous. One of them, Small Torn Campbell Soup Can (Pepper Pot) (1962), sold for $11.8 million in 2006!
Campbell's Slogans
Here are some of Campbell's well-known advertising slogans:
- Mmm Mmm Good (since 1935)
- Give Me The Campbell Life (1969–1975)
- Soup Is Good Food (1975–around 1982)
- Never underestimate the power of soup! (1990s)
- Possibilities (2005–2009)
- It's Amazing What Soup Can Do! (since 2010)
- Made for real, Real life (since 2015)
Health Information
Many canned soups, including some Campbell's kinds, used to have a lot of sodium (salt). This wasn't good for people on low-sodium diets. However, Campbell's has worked to lower the salt in many of its soups, like Campbell's Chunky and Healthy Request. They also reduced sodium in their V-8 and Tomato juices.
In 2007, Campbell's received an award for its efforts to lower sodium levels. By 2009, they said they had lowered the salt in half of their soups.
In 2016, Campbell's decided to support clear labeling for foods containing GMO ingredients. They announced they would label their products that included GMO additives.
Campbell's Brands
Campbell's owns many brands that are sold around the world. Here are some of them:
Campbell's Brand
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This is the company's main brand. It includes soups, sauces, and canned meals.
- Condensed Soups: These need water or milk added before you eat them.
- Campbell's Condensed Soups
- Campbell's Healthy Request
- Ready-to-Eat Soups: These don't need extra water.
- Campbell's Chunky Soups
- Campbell's Chunky Maxx
- Campbell's Home Style
- Campbell's Soup on the Go
- Campbell's Slow Kettle Style
- Campbell's Well Yes
- Other Products:
- Campbell's Pork and Beans
- Campbell's Spaghetti
- Campbell's SpaghettiOs
- Campbell's Ready Meals
- Campbell's Sauces
- Campbell's tomato juice
- V8 vegetable juice
Pepperidge Farm
This company makes baked goods and was bought by Campbell's in 1961.
- Breads: Sandwich breads, Swirl breads, buns, rolls, and bagels.
- Crackers: Like Goldfish crackers, Harvest Wheat, and Golden Butter.
- Cookies: Such as Milano, Farmhouse, and Pirouette.
- Desserts: Including Puff pastry and layer cakes.
Pace Foods
Pace is an American salsa company that Campbell's bought in 1995. They make salsas and picante sauce.
Swanson
- Broth
- Canned chicken
Prego
- Pasta sauces
Snyder's-Lance
This company makes many popular snacks. Campbell's acquired them in 2017.
- Lance crackers and cookies
- Snyder's of Hanover pretzels
- Cape Cod Potato Chips
- Kettle potato chips
- Pop Secret popcorn
- Snack Factory pretzel chips
- Archway Cookies
Late July Snacks
Late July Snacks is a company that makes organic snacks. It became part of Campbell's when Snyder's-Lance was acquired.
Campbell's Factories
In the United States
- Camden, New Jersey: This is the world headquarters, but no products are made here.
- Maxton, North Carolina: Opened in 1978.
- Napoleon, Ohio
- Paris, Texas
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Everett, Washington
- West Sacramento, California
- Tualatin, Oregon
- East Rancho Dominguez, California
- Rancho Cucamonga, California
Around the World
- Toronto, Canada: Opened in 1930 (closed in 2018).
- Shepparton, Victoria, Australia
- Selangor, Malaysia
Recalls
2010 Recall
On June 22, 2010, Campbell's "SpaghettiOs and Meatballs" product was recalled. This happened because there might have been some issues with the meat in the product.
See also
In Spanish: Campbell Soup Company para niños
- Cream of mushroom soup
- Green bean casserole
- List of food companies
