M'm! M'm! Good! To Go!; Campbell Launches Major New Convenience Platform for Soup; Microwaveable Soups Launch Builds on Success
February 18 2003 - 10:35AM
UK Regulatory
BW20030218002395 20030218T153507Z UTC
( BW)(CAMPBELL-SOUP-CO)(CBE) M'm! M'm! Good! To Go!; Campbell Launches
Major New Convenience Platform for Soup; Microwaveable Soups Launch
Builds on Success of 'Soup at Hand'
Business Editors
UK REGULATORY NEWS
CAMDEN, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 18, 2003--Campbell's is making
its soup "M'm! M'm! Good! To Go!"
Campbell Soup Company (NYSE:CPB) today announced a major expansion of
its soup portfolio designed to meet growing consumer demand for
convenience. Campbell's new convenience line of single-serve,
microwaveable soups builds on the initial success of "Soup at Hand,"
the sippable soup Campbell introduced last fall, and the powerful
brand equities of the company's most popular ready-to-serve soups,
"Chunky" and "Select."
Launched last year with four varieties, "Soup at Hand" was one of the
most successful new product introductions in the company's history.
Campbell's will add seven new varieties to the "Soup at Hand" line-up,
including three flavors targeted at the "tween" market. Campbell will
also introduce six varieties of "Chunky" and four varieties of
"Select", which will be available in new single-serve, microwaveable
bowls.
Campbell's expanded convenience platform is part of its strategy to
revitalize its U.S. Soup business, a central element of the company's
Transformation Plan. According to National Eating Trends, one out of
four meals are eaten on the go and 44 percent of women carry lunch to
work or school. With simple microwave preparation and unique
packaging, Campbell's new "M'm! M'm! Good! To Go" line of
microwaveable soups addresses the needs of these busy consumers.
"We intend to make the 'C' in Campbell synonymous with convenience,"
said Campbell President and Chief Executive Officer Douglas R. Conant.
"Our success this year with "Soup at Hand" demonstrates it's possible
to dramatically change the perception our consumers have about soup.
We see the opportunity to shift the paradigm so that our consumers
think about soup as a 'meal solution' for many new usage occasions.
Over the last 18 months, we've been aggressively developing a
comprehensive innovation program in soup. We're now ready to launch
our first wave, targeted at convenience." Conant announced the new
soup initiatives today at a major meeting of securities analysts in
Scottsdale, Arizona.
These new microwaveable soups are part of a comprehensive convenience
initiative from Campbell's. Beginning this fall, the effort also
includes adding easy-open lids to Campbell's entire line of
family-favorite "Red and White" condensed soups and expansion of
recently introduced in-store shelving initiatives designed to make
shopping for Campbell's soups easier and more convenient for
consumers.
The new line of single serve, ready to serve soups will arrive on
store shelves beginning in July. They include:
-- The expansion of Campbell's "Soup at Hand" with seven new
varieties, three of which will target a new generation of consumers -
"tweens" - children 10 to 14. New "tween" flavors will include Chicken
& Stars, Mexican Fiesta and Pizza. Since being introduced last year,
each of the four original varieties of "Soup at Hand" - Classic
Tomato, Creamy Chicken, Cream of Broccoli, and Blended Vegetable
Medley - are among the top 20 percent of ready-to-serve varieties.
-- Campbell's new portable "Chunky" soup, which will be available in
the brand's most popular six varieties, including Classic Chicken
Noodle, Sirloin Burger with Country Vegetables. Each will be served in
an individual, 16-ounce microwaveable bowl. "Chunky" is Campbell's
leading, and America's favorite, ready-to-serve soup.
-- Campbell's new portable "Select" soup, which will come in four
microwaveable varieties, including New England Clam Chowder and
Italian Style Wedding. In its first year of national distribution,
Italian Wedding is one of Campbell's most popular "Select" varieties.
About Campbell Soup Company
Campbell Soup Company is a global manufacturer and marketer of high
quality soup, sauces, beverage, biscuits, confectionery and prepared
food products. The company owns a portfolio of more than 20
market-leading businesses each with more than $100 million in sales.
They include "Campbell's" soups worldwide, "Erasco" soups in Germany
and "Liebig" soups in France, "Pepperidge Farm" cookies and crackers,
"V8" vegetable juices, "V8 Splash" juice beverages, "Pace" Mexican
sauces, "Prego" pasta sauces, "Franco-American" canned pastas and
gravies, "Swanson" broths, "Homepride" sauces in the United Kingdom,
"Arnott's" biscuits in Australia and "Godiva" chocolates around the
world. The company also owns dry soup and sauce businesses in Europe
under the "Batchelors," "Oxo," "Lesieur," "Royco," "Liebig," "Heisse
Tasse," "Bla Band" and "McDonnells" brands. The company is ably
supported by approximately 25,000 employees worldwide. For more
information on the company, visit Campbell's website on the Internet
at www.campbellsoup.com.
Note: A photo is available at URL:
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/photo.cgi?pw.021803/bb5
Short Name: Campbell Soup Co.
Category Code: MSC
Sequence Number: 00002054
Time of Receipt (offset from UTC): 20030218T141152+0000
--30--CRB/ph* mh/uk
CONTACT: Campbell Soup Company
John W. Faulkner (Media)
(856) 342-3738
or
Leonard F. Griehs (Analysts)
(856) 342-6428
KEYWORD: NEW JERSEY UNITED KINGDOM INTERNATIONAL EUROPE
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: RETAIL FOODS/BEVERAGES CONSUMER/HOUSEHOLD
ADVERTISING/MARKETING PHOTO PHOTOWIRE PRODUCT
SOURCE: Campbell Soup Company
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