[Sca-cooks] tomato soup

[Terry Decker]

I think the big thing with Campbell was the "condensed" part of the label. 
IIRC, they patented the condensation process for soup in 1897.  It made for 
smaller cans that were easier to store and cost less to transport which 
translates to higher profit margins when you think about the cost of 
shipping and very likely greater availability.  It is very possible that a 
good marketing campaign could have tripped over the latent demand for the 
convenience of  "heat and eat."

Bear

> He has an entire chapter on "Soupy Sales."
> He credits the first commercial tomato soup to
> James H. W. Huckins of Boston. The date is 1858.
> It was even patented. Before Campbell sold tomato soup, they
> sold canned tomatoes. Moving into soup was the next step.
> One of the things that Smith goes into is how the soup was marketed
> to housewives and that seems to be where Campbells was first rate.
> Did the marketing create the demand?
>
> Johnnae