Swanson facts for kids
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| Private | |
| Fate | Acquired by Campbell's in 1955, became a brand |
| Founded | c. 1899 in Omaha, Nebraska |
| Founder | Carl A. Swanson |
| Headquarters |
,
U.S.
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| Products | Frozen food, broth |
| Owner | Campbell's |
Swanson is a well-known brand that makes frozen meals, like TV dinners, and tasty broths. You can find their products in North America and Hong Kong. The original Swanson Company started in Omaha, Nebraska. They were pioneers in making frozen dinners better and easier to enjoy.
Today, Conagra Brands owns the part of Swanson that makes TV dinners. The Campbell Soup Company owns the Swanson broth business. Swanson still makes classic TV dinners and yummy pot pies. Their broths include popular chicken and beef flavors.
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The Story of Swanson
Carl A. Swanson came to America from Sweden. He worked on a farm before moving to Omaha, Nebraska. In Omaha, he worked in a grocery store. There, he met John O. Jerpe, who owned a small company. Carl Swanson became a partner in Jerpe's company in 1899.
At first, the Jerpe Commission Company bought eggs and cream from local farmers. They processed the eggs and made 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. Carl Swanson eventually bought the company from Jerpe. He renamed it C.A. Swanson and Sons because his sons, Gilbert and Clarke, joined the business.
How World War II Changed Food
The frozen food industry changed a lot around World War II. Many men went to fight in the war. This meant more women joined the workforce. With less time at home, women needed quicker ways to prepare meals. After the war, frozen meals became very popular. They offered a convenient way to save time in the kitchen.
The Invention of Frozen 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 and were ready to bake.
They got the idea for full meals from a Swanson executive named Gerry Thomas. He visited a company that made food for airlines. This company packed food in aluminum trays that could be heated in an oven. Thomas suggested this idea to the Swanson brothers. He thought they could make a tray with three sections. One section would hold frozen turkey slices. The other two would hold side dishes.
Swanson's first frozen dinner was a turkey meal. Soon, they added chicken and beef dinners too. 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 tray while watching TV.
The Rise of the TV Dinner Brand
When Swanson & Sons launched their TV dinner in 1953, they sold 5,000 meals. Just one year later, in 1954, they had sold over 10 million TV dinners! The company stopped making butter and margarine. They decided to focus on their popular chicken and turkey products.
In April 1955, the Campbell Soup Company bought Swanson. Campbell's acquired Swanson's 4,000 employees and 20 plants. The Swanson brothers received a large amount of Campbell's stock. By 1956, the Swanson brothers were selling 13 million TV dinners every year.
Swanson from the 1970s to Today
When Swanson TV dinners first came out, they were a cheap alternative to home-cooked meals. By the 1970s, more families had two working parents. This meant people often chose restaurant food or takeout. Consumers also wanted more exciting and healthy food options.
Swanson was slow to update its traditional menus. They also didn't quickly adopt microwave-safe trays. Many competitors started using paper and plastic trays that could go in the microwave. Swanson kept using foil trays for a long time.
In 1983, Swanson introduced a new line called "Le Menu." These dinners had more fancy meals on plastic microwaveable plates. But by then, many other strong brands were in the market. Companies like Stouffer's even offered low-calorie meals. Swanson fell behind these new trends.
In March 1998, Campbell Soup sold the Swanson frozen meal business. It became part of a company called Vlasic Foods International. This company was later renamed Pinnacle Foods in 2001. Campbell Soup allowed Pinnacle to use the Swanson name for frozen meals for ten years.
This agreement ended in mid-2009. Pinnacle Foods continued to make frozen meals. However, they stopped using the Swanson name for most meals. Instead, they used the Hungry-Man brand. The Swanson name is still used for pot pies. On October 26, 2018, Conagra Brands bought Pinnacle Foods.
Swanson Around the World
Adolf Ho Ping-yau worked for the Campbell Soup Company in Hong Kong. He brought the Swanson brand to Hong Kong in 1987. He saw 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.
However, Ho realized that chicken broth would be popular in Hong Kong. He was right! By 2004, Swanson chicken broth was Campbell's best-selling product in Hong Kong. Swanson soup products have a huge share of the market there, about 90%.
Interesting Facts
A branch of the Omaha Public Library is named after W. Clarke Swanson.
See also
- Mrs. Wagner's Pies
