Soup is said to have existed as early as 20,000 B.C. Our ancestors boiled soup using sealed baskets out of tree barks and animal hides, cooking instruments of the time.

Safe to say, soup has evolved with the over the centuries right alongside mankind. Through the invention of canning and other updated packaging methods allow soups to be sold hot or cold, liquid or dry.

In today’s industry analysis, we evaluate the changing consumption trends that’s disrupting or beloved comfort food (in good ways). Changing consumer tastes and healthier lifestyles are forcing manufacturers to make sweeping updates to their product over the past decade. Some innovations include more nutritious soups that aid in weight loss, boost the immunity, and invigorate the body from everyday stress.

Table of Contents: 

Soup(er) Facts You Should Know About

pumpkin soup

A pumpkin soup.

The major types of soup are classified as dry soup, wet soup, bouillon, and broth and stock. (Bandera County Courier)

This year, the average per capita soup consumption remains at 0.6 kg. (Statista)

Owing to its simple preparation, instant soup is seen to continue to dominate the soup market. (Mordor Intelligence)

Soups with milk and chicken stock produce a lighter blend rather than using heavy cream. (Think USA Dairy)

A top player in the soup market for several years, Campbell Soup Co. has seen its share dwindle to smaller soup manufacturers in recent years. (Euromonitor)

Dried soups are divided into two types: instant and dehydrated, depending on the product. (WMFJ.com)

Eating dense, low-energy foods like a soup can contribute to weight loss and long-term health benefits. (MarketResearch.com)

The popularity of health and wellness products, the growing variety of its products, and the dynamic promotions of key players in the industry are other reasons why the industry is continuing to develop. (Mordor Intelligence)

Inspiring consumers to take in more vegetables, soup manufacturers are innovating smoothly pureed soups composed of fresh vegetables. (IndustryARC)

Successive product introduction and ingenious flavor offerings by manufacturers have driven the soup market with a robust growth rate. (Market Research Future)

Walmart is Campbell’s Soup Company’s largest customer taking up 18% of its distribution percentage.

One trend in the U.S. soup market is serving premium soup using savory practices, inclining to local taste preferment and preparation. (IndustryARC)

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The most common types of soup in the market today include Dry or dehydrated soups, Condensed wet soups, Frozen soups, Ready-to-serve soups, Refrigerated soups, and Ramen. (MarketResearch.com)

Campbell Soup Company employs about 1,200 people in its headquarters alone in Camden, New Jersey. (Vault)

Spending on promotional and other marketing activities have kept key soup manufacturers dominating the market. Concentrating on product innovation and certain branding strategies have also kept these companies with a competitive edge.

Frozen soup, just like any other ready-to-eat soup, contains a lot of nutrients and comes in different kinds of packages. (Weny.com)

4,400: The number of Campbell Soup applications and trademark registrations.

Some of the key players in the frozen soup industry include Kettle cuisine, Tabatchnick, Campbell Soup Company, Blount Fine Foods, Conagra Foods, Nestle, Kraft Heinz, The Schwan Food Company, and Amy’s Kitchen. (Weny.com)

Campbell Soup Company employs about 23,000 people in all its offices around the globe. (Vault)

In an era of tight restrictions and quick access to health and nutritional facts, current soup manufacturers are no longer inclined to bet on their healthy perception to promote their products. (Weny.com)

Dried soups are typically in bouillon cube form, it is a mixture of powdered ingredients such as pepper, dehydrated veggies, and seasoning. (WMFJ.com)

Global Soup Industry and Consumption Trends

global soup

Almost every culture has some form of soup.

The global soup market size is segmented with respect to region and country includes Europe (UK, Germany, and Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific region (China and rest of the Asia-Pacific region), Americas (US, Canada, and the rest of the American region), Middle East (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and the rest of the Middle East region), and the rest of the world. (Bandera County Courier)

In Britain, canned soup sales fell by a surprising £28.7million, while chilled soups have seen increased sales. (Express.co.uk)

Canada’s import of broth and soups rose to $205,616,882.76 on a 6% year on year increase since 2013. (Nation Master)

In 2020, the soup industry gained over 21 million in earnings. The market is anticipated to increase annually with a CAGR of 2.6%. (Statista)

The top global soup manufacturers include The Kraft Heinz Company, CSC Brand (Campbell Soup Company), Unilever, Conagra Brands, Nestle, Kettle Cuisine, General Mills, Kroger, Amy’s Kitchen, Hain Celestial, and Bear Creek Country Kitchens. (Market Watch)

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In the next few years, UTH and canned soup products are expected to increase in demand. Consumption of canned products is especially high in develo