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Monday 12 March 2018

Soup (Campbell's)

When organic chemist John Dorrance returned from Europe to the United States to work for his uncle at the Joseph A. Campbell Preserve Company, in Camden, New Jersey in the late 1890s, he outfitted a laboratory on the company premises out of his own pocket.

The Joseph A. Campbell Preserve Co., Camden, NJ in 1894

While studying in Europe, Dorrance had become used to having soup with his meals. He wanted to perfect a method of canning soup and adding it to Joseph A. Campbell Preserve Company's product line. In 1897 he invented condensed soup, which reproduced the soups he enjoyed in Europe, but in condensed form. This gave the company an advantage over competitors because by doing away with the water in canned soup shipping costs were much reduced, which enabled it to make it possible to offer a 10-ounce can of Campbell's condensed soup for just a dime. Also this made it possible for the Joseph Campbell Preserve Company to become one of the first food companies to have national distribution.

At the Exposition Universelle in Paris in 1900, Campbell's soups won a gold medal. The medal is still shown on the soup cans today.

The American pop-art pioneer Andy Warhol's 'Campbell's Soup Cans' exhibition opened at the Ferus Gallery in Los Angeles on July 9, 1962. The main exhibit consisted of 32 paintings of cans of every variety of Campbell's Soup.

Although initially considering legal action, Campbell Soup did not sue Andy Warhol for his iconic Campbell's Soup Cans series.  While the initial reaction might have been due to concerns about trademark infringement, the company ultimately realized the unexpected benefits of the artwork. 

Andy Warhol- Campbell's Soup Cans (1962) Wikipedia

The red and white label on a Campbell's Soup can comes from the colors of the Cornell University football team.

McDonald's used to sell Campbell's soup during the winter time at select locations.

Campbell's Green Bean Casserole is so popular that Campbell's estimates 40% of their Cream of Mushroom Soup is used to make the dish .

The FTC once issued a cease and desist order to Campbell's Soup company for using marbles in their soup ads. The marbles were placed in the bottom of the soup to push the solid ingredients to the top, which was considered deceptive.

Source Food for Thought by Ed Pearce

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