Instore - October 2018 - 38

PRODUCT CATEGORY SPOTLIGHT

Fresh soups still going strong
by Ryan Aktinson

n late August, the Campbell Soup Co. made
an announcement that was heard loud and
clear throughout the retail foodservice industry. The company is getting out of the
fresh business.
According to a new strategic plan, the company is planning to divest its Campbell
Fresh business unit, along with its Campbell
International unit.
Is that a sign of turbulent times to come for
fresh soup sales, or just an indication that
the playing field is about to get more competitive? Probably the latter, according to
John Becker, senior director of marketing
for Sandridge Food Corporation.

Home delivers on this consumer need for
food that is not only 100 percent clean, but
convenient and craveable too."
The Panera at Home includes about 100
products in several categories, including
more than 15 soup varieties. Broccoli Cheddar is the company's top soup seller.
Those on the supplier side are also seeing an
increased focus on soups.
"We are receiving more and more inquiries
for a wide range of portions from small single deli type servings to larger bulk fillings,"
says Sean Devenish, business development
manager for the food division of Unifiller

Systems, which supplies depositing systems
to soup manufacturers and more. "Customers are continually requiring more versatility from their production equipment in that
they need the capability to portion soups
with large particulate sizes which often requires agitation to ensure that particulates
and inclusions remain suspended and evenly
distributed as far as particulates and liquid
ratios are concerned."
Sandridge also recently opened an expanded soup cooking facility in an effort to position itself for current and future growth.
The facility added European style cooking
vessels to expand operational and culinary
capabilities. Whether braising, sautéing or

"I think it will have little effect," Becker
says. "There are some great fresh soup manufacturers in the market today. I'm sure we
will all be vying for additional volume."
The data backs up the thought that soup
sales are strong. Nielsen's latest numbers
say that soup sales, buoyed by strong action in the Central region, were up 6 percent
across the nation.

"There are some great fresh soup
manufacturers in the market today.
I'm sure we will all be vying for
additional volume."
JOHN BECKER, SANDRIDGE FOOD CORPORATION

Meanwhile, the Panera At Home line of
soups - from St. Louis-based restaurant
chain Panera - became the first soup brand
in the refrigerated category to reach the $100
million mark. That 2017 total represents a
27-percent increase over 2016, according to
market research firm IRI.
"Consumers are gravitating towards the perimeter of grocery stores, looking for food
with our cafe-fresh taste, made with real
ingredients," says Mike Bufano, Panera at
Home's senior vice president and general
manager. "Across categories, Panera at

38 * OCTOBER 2018 * commissary INSIDER

Fresh soup sales in the supermarket setting are up 6 percent over last year, according to
Nielsen data. Photo: Blount Fine Foods

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Instore - October 2018