CAREERS MEDIA INVESTORS SUPPLIERS Campbell Soup Company OUR FOOD OUR IMPACT NEWS ABOUT US Toggle Search CONTACT OUR STORY Campbell History Highlights from over 150 years at your kitchen table. TIMELINE STORIES FROM OUR ARCHIVES BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEOS We’ve been proudly making food for over 150 years. Our heritage is a testament to the iconic brands and delicious foods that our employees—past and present—created and continue to build upon today. Explore a few milestones along our journey. The Early Days 1869 Joseph Campbell, a wholesale fruit and vegetable vendor, and Abraham Anderson, a commercial canner and packer, form the firm of Anderson & Campbell in Camden, New Jersey. This would one day become Campbell Soup Company. 1894 Arthur Dorrance succeeds Joseph Campbell as president. Joseph Campbell retires, ending the association of the original founders, with Abraham Anderson having previously left the partnership in 1876. 1895 First jar of ready-to-eat soup, Beefsteak Tomato, is introduced. New Jersey Beefsteak tomatoes had been our signature product for over 25 years, featured prominently on our labels and first trademark. 1897 Dr. John T. Dorrance, Arthur’s nephew, invents the process of condensing soup, leading to smaller packaging: Cans! The invention makes soups more affordable for families while preserving the quality of the ingredients. 1898 First red & white soup can label debuts after a company executive attends the annual Cornell-Penn football game and is impressed by Cornell’s new red and white uniforms. 1900 The company wins a bronze medal for product excellence at the Paris Exposition. The medallion is added to the can label where it still appears to this day. …including farmers, army doctors during World War I, and athletes training for the Winter Olympics. 1904 Campbell Kids are “born” when a Philadelphia artist, Grace Dayton, sketches them for a series of streetcar advertisements. DID YOU KNOW 1905 Our first national ad campaign debuts in magazines like Good Housekeeping. DID YOU KNOW 1911 Campbell’s soup achieves national distribution. 1929 John Dorrance and Chef Louis Charles DeLisle celebrating his Order of Chevalier du Merite (Knight of Merit) award in 1929. In 1902 Chef DeLisle became the first executive chef of Campbell’s. John believed that his condensed soups should be of the highest quality, so he worked closely with Chef DeLisle on refining each soup’s recipe until it met their exacting standards. 1914 Dr. John T. Dorrance, inventor of condensed soup, becomes president of the company. He leads the company until his death in 1930. 1915 We acquire Franco-American Food company, founded in 1886 and makers of condensed soup and canned pasta. This is our first acquisition. Introducing Campbell Soup Company 1922 We adopt “Soup” as our middle name, officially becoming Campbell Soup Company. 1931 We begin radio advertising with our iconic “M’m! M’m! Good!” jingle. 1934 We introduce Campbell’s Noodle with Chicken and Cream of Mushroom soups. Noodle with Chicken became Chicken Noodle after a radio announcer misread an ad for the soup and the name stuck. 1941 Campbell Test Kitchens open, with professionally trained home economists developing recipes using condensed soups—many of which would become classics. Today, you can find many of these recipes (and more that have been added since) online. 1948 We acquire V8, founded in 1933 by W.G. Peacock in Evanston, Illinois. The acquisition includes a manufacturing location based in Napoleon, Ohio, opened in 1938. Today, V8 is the leading vegetable juice in the United States. 1951 Campbell’s first television commercial premieres. The company goes on to sponsor highly-rated shows, including “Lassie” and “Peter Pan.” 1951 Future President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, appears in a V8 ad. Building on our Success 1953 We launch the Campbell Soup Foundation, originally founded as the “Campbell Soup Fund,” which supports organizations driving transformative work in the communities we call home. 1954 Campbell Soup Company goes public on the New York Stock Exchange with the ticker symbol CPB. 1955 Campbell home economist, Dorcas Reilly, creates the iconic Green Bean Casserole recipe. Every Thanksgiving, this recipe is viewed 4 million times on our website. Find more fun facts about our Green Bean Casserole or make the recipe! 1957 We open a new 136,000 sq. ft. corporate headquarters less than a mile from our original location in Camden, New Jersey. This is still our home today. 1961 Margaret becomes the first woman to serve on our Board of Directors when Pepperidge Farm is acquired. 1961 We acquire Pepperidge Farm, a baked goods company founded by Margaret Rudkin in Fairfield, Connecticut in 1937. Here are a few moments from Pepperidge Farm history, before Maggie joined the Campbell family. 1962 Pepperidge Farm Goldfish debut. The first five flavors are: Lightly Salted (Original), Cheese, Pizza, Barbecue and Smoky. Today, Goldfish are among the world’s most popular snack crackers. Becoming an Icon 1962 Andy Warhol debuts Campbell’s Soup Cans paintings at the Ferus art gallery in Los Angeles. 1965 SpaghettiOs debuts as “The greatest invention since the napkin.” Original varieties were “Original,” “Franks,” and “Little Meatballs.” 1970 We launch Chunky soup, our first product geared specifically toward men. In 1997, Chunky soup becomes the Official Soup Sponsor of the NFL, with the birth of our famous Mama’s Boys campaign featuring NFL stars. 1974 The Campbell Soup Foundation launches a Summer Program providing safe, constructive activities for thousands of Camden youth each year. 1981 We introduce Prego pasta sauces, becoming the #1 new dry grocery product of the decade. 1983 Our first child care center opens for Campbell families. In 2018 we celebrated the grand opening of a new state-of-the-art Family Center. DID YOU KNOW 1988 Goldfish crackers blast into space onboard the Space Shuttle Discovery. DID YOU KNOW 1990 The 20 billionth can of Campbell’s Condensed Tomato soup is made. DID YOU KNOW 1991 Campbell’s Healthy Request soups are introduced, providing a heart healthy and convenient soup option. 1995 We acquire Pace Foods, a leading producer of salsa, founded by David Pace in San Antonio, Texas in 1947. 1997 Goldfish crackers become “The Snack That Smiles Back” with the introduction of “Smiley,” and actual smiles on some of the crackers. This marks the first-ever alteration to Goldfish since the crackers launched in 1962. 1997 We celebrate 100 years of Campbell’s condensed soup. Looking Toward the Future 2004 We launch our first Employee Resource Group (ERG), the Campbell African American Network. Today known as the Black Resource Group, it is one of almost a dozen ERGs across the company that help us continue to build a more inclusive workplace. 2006 Goldfish Finn and Friends advertising campaign is first introduced. 2010 We invest in the expansion of our World Headquarters in Camden, New Jersey by opening a new 80,000 square foot, silver-level LEED certified employee center. Our total footprint is now 750,000 square feet. 2011 We launch Campbell’s Healthy Communities, a 10-year, $10-million commitment to improve the health of young people in our hometown of Camden, New Jersey. The program focuses on four areas that we believe make communities healthier: food access; physical activity; nutrition education; and public will. 2012 We dedicate a 9.8 megawatt solar field at our Napoleon, Ohio manufacturing location. 2012 We launch a limited-edition series of cans of Campbell’s Condensed Tomato Soup with Andy Warhol-inspired labels to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the artist’s work. 2016 Campbell’s Well Yes! launches with 9 original varieties, including Roasted Chicken & Wild Rice. 2017 We acquire Pacific Foods, maker of natural and organic broths, soups, and plant-based beverages, founded in Tualatin, Oregon in 1987. 2003 Since 2003, snacks has paved the way in the organic, non-GMO tortilla chip market by authentically crafting classic, delicious snacks with real ingredients. In 2020 snacks debuted its first-ever national advertising campaign. 2018 We acquire Snyder’s-Lance, Inc. of Charlotte, North Carolina, a leading snack company with well-known brands like Snyder’s of Hanover, Lance, Kettle Brand, Cape Cod, and Late July. 2019 Mark A. Clouse becomes our 14th president and CEO. 2019 We celebrate 150 years of making delicious, affordable food for all. Stories from our archive NEWS The new Campbell’s Condensed Soup CAMPBELL HISTORY 8 things you didn’t know about ‘The Soup That Eats Like a Meal’ OUR FOOD 8 things you didn’t know about V8: The Original Plant-Powered Drink CAMPBELL HISTORY 6 things you didn’t know about “The Snack That Smiles Back” FIND MORE NEWS Sharing Our Heritage Follow Us instagram twitter linkedin CONTACT US Our Food Our Food Meals & Beverages Snacks Health & Nutrition Our Commitment to Nutrition For Health Professionals Our Impact Our Impact Trusted Food Vibrant Communities Thriving People Healthy Environment Strategy, Governance, and Reporting Awards & Recognition News Newsroom Press Releases Campbell History Community COVID-19 Inclusion & Diversity Life at Campbell Nutrition Our Food Sustainability About Us About Us Purpose, Values, and Culture Our Leadership Team Campbell History Contact Us Campbell Shop Resources Campbell Soup Foundation FAQs Suppliers Responsible Sourcing Careers Investors TERMS OF USE INTEREST BASED ADS PRIVACY POLICY DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION © 2021 CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY. 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