Swanson facts for kids
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| Private (1899–1955) | |
| Fate | Acquired by Campbell's in 1955, became a brand |
| Founded | c. 1899 in Omaha, Nebraska |
| Founder | Carl A. Swanson |
| Headquarters |
Parsippany, NJ
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| Products | Frozen food, broth |
| Owner | Campbell's |
Swanson is a popular brand known for its TV dinners, broths, and canned poultry (like chicken). These products are mostly sold in North America and Hong Kong. The original Swanson Company began in Omaha, Nebraska. It became famous for making frozen dinners easier to prepare.
Today, the frozen dinner part of the Swanson brand is owned by Conagra Brands. The broth business is owned by the Campbell Soup Company. Swanson's frozen meals include "Classics TV dinners" and pot pies. Their broth lineup features chicken broth and beef broth.
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How Swanson Started
The story of Swanson began with Carl A. Swanson (1879–1949). He was an immigrant from Sweden. Carl first worked on a farm in Nebraska. Later, he moved to Omaha and worked in a grocery store.
In 1899, Carl became a partner in a small company called Jerpe Commission Company. This company bought eggs and cream from local farmers. They would process the eggs and make butter from the cream. Then, they sold these products to other businesses.
With Carl Swanson as a partner, the company grew. They started selling chicken, turkey, and other meats. Eventually, Carl bought the company from Jerpe. He renamed it C.A. Swanson and Sons. His sons, Gilbert and Clarke, had joined the family business.
The Rise of Frozen Foods
The frozen food industry changed a lot around World War II. Many men went to fight in the war. This meant more women started working outside the home. They had less time to cook big meals for their families. After the war, people began to look for faster, more convenient meal options. This is where frozen dinners became very popular.
The Invention of TV Dinners
Carl Swanson passed away in 1949. His sons, Gilbert C. and W. Clarke, took over the company. In 1950, the Swanson brothers started making frozen chicken and turkey pot pies. These pies came in aluminum trays that could be heated in an oven.
The idea for full frozen meals came from a Swanson executive named Gerry Thomas. He visited a company that made food for airlines. This company packed meals in aluminum trays that could be heated. Thomas suggested this idea to the Swanson brothers. He thought they could make a three-compartment tray. One part would hold frozen turkey slices, and the other two would hold side dishes.
The very first Swanson frozen dinner was a turkey meal. Later, they added chicken and beef dinners. By the 1950s, more than half of American homes had televisions. So, the Swanson brothers called their new frozen meals "TV dinners." They were perfect for eating on a folding tray while watching TV.
Growing Popularity and Changes
When Swanson's "TV dinner" brand first came out in 1953, they sold 5,000 meals. Just one year later, in 1954, they sold over 10 million TV dinners! The company even stopped making butter and margarine to focus on their frozen and canned poultry products.
In April 1955, the Campbell Soup Company bought Swanson. At that time, Swanson had 4,000 employees and 20 factories. By 1956, the Swanson brothers were selling 13 million TV dinners every year.
Modern Times for Swanson
When Swanson TV dinners first launched, they mostly competed with homemade meals. They were made to be affordable. By the 1970s, more families had two incomes or single working parents. This meant people were eating out more or getting takeout. Consumers also wanted more interesting flavors and healthier options.
Swanson was slow to change its traditional meals. They also didn't quickly switch to microwave-safe trays. Many other companies started using paper or plastic trays that could go in the microwave. Swanson eventually introduced a new line called "Le Menu" in the 1980s. These meals had more modern dishes and came on plastic microwaveable plates. However, by then, many other strong brands like Stouffer's were also in the market.
In 1998, Campbell Soup sold the Swanson frozen meal business to a company called Vlasic Foods International. This company later became Pinnacle Foods in 2001. Pinnacle Foods continued to make frozen meals, but they eventually stopped using the Swanson name for most of them. Instead, they used the Hungry-Man brand. However, the Swanson name is still used for pot pies. In 2018, Conagra Brands bought Pinnacle Foods.
Swanson Around the World
Swanson products are also popular in other countries, like Hong Kong. In 1987, Adolf Ho Ping-yau, who managed Campbell Soup in Hong Kong, brought the Swanson brand there. He noticed that a lot of chicken soup was left over when making TV dinners in the U.S. There wasn't much demand for chicken broth in America at the time.
He decided to introduce Swanson chicken broth to Hong Kong. This was a great idea! By 2004, Swanson chicken broth was Campbell's best-selling product in Hong Kong. The Swanson line of soup products had a huge share of the market there, about 90%.
Tributes
A branch of the Omaha Public Library is named after W. Clarke Swanson, one of the sons who helped run the company.
See also
- Mrs. Wagner's Pies
