Sunday, July 10, 2011

The Can Get's The "Can"...!


Looks like an iconic symbol is about to face extinction!

The term "a can of soup" is about to change for good, if Heinz follows it's newest marketing scheme! Quoting the excuse of the rising cost of metals, the cans are being replaced with tubes. Sounds like a pretty good idea, but it is going to play heck with the organization of all our pantries, I think!



Soup in a tube: Heinz launches green alternative as tin can feels the squeeze

By Sean Poulter
Last updated at 12:00 AM on 9th July 2011

You can find a can of soup in almost every kitchen larder.

And they have even found their way into art galleries thanks to Andy Warhol’s iconic paintings.

But the supermarket staple could soon be squeezed out by soup in a tube, which is being launched by Heinz.

With the price of metal rising, the ‘squeeze and stir’ soups, which come in a plastic sachet that resembles a tube of toothpaste, could replace both cans and instant powders.

A similar pattern is being seen with the success of milk bags, which are being introduced by supermarkets as a green alternative to bottles and cartons.

The Heinz product is a puree rather than a powder and makes a mugful of soup when diluted with hot water and stirred.

In recent years, fresh soups have enjoyed huge success based on a perception they are healthier than those sold in cans or as powder.
Squeeze and Stir: The new portable soup range takes in the flavours Cream of Tomato, Mediterranean Vegetable and Cream of Tomato with Basil

Squeeze and Stir: The new portable soup range takes in the flavours Cream of Tomato, Mediterranean Vegetable and Cream of Tomato with Basil

Heinz is keen to play up the natural ingredients in its new product – pointing out that they are equivalent to eating one of the recommended five-a-day portions of vegetables or fruit.

The soups, which will be available from the end of this month, contain no artificial colours or flavours and are low in fat.

Heinz spokesman Matthew Cullum said: ‘The tubes can easily be popped into a handbag, briefcase or pocket to be enjoyed as a convenient lunch or snack’.

The instant soup purees come in four flavours - cream of tomato, minestrone, Mediterranean vegetable, and tomato with basil.

The purees are arguably the biggest revolution for Heinz since 1910, when it first began selling canned soup in Britain.

Mr Cullum added: ‘We’re confident that consumers will not only love the thick, velvety texture and delicious flavours but also the fact that because it’s a puree, not a powder, it gives you one of your five a day.’

Some manufacturers have responded to rising commodity prices in recent years by introducing new pack sizes, often slimming down the contents or using cheaper or greener materials.

Sceptical consumers may see the new shape as a back-door way of raising prices.

The Heinz 70g tube costs 59p, which equates to 0.84p per gram.

A normal 400g can of soup, which is considerably more expensive to produce because of the metal, costs 85p, which works out at 0.21p per gram.

Even taking account of the fact the puree has to be diluted, it would seem the new product is a more expensive option.

I can't help but think this might make carrying soup in our BOB just a little easier, don't you think? If nothing else, carrying a tube or two in the car or truck a tad more handy!

Just like the old song says "The times, they are a-changing!"

Coffee on the patio this morning! Still no rain in sight!

17 comments:

Kellie said...

Only if they do chicken noodle and cream of mushroom!!!

HermitJim said...

Hey Kellie...
Looks like they are starting off with some of the more fancy soups, but I may be wrong!

Looks like we would have to carry additional water to use these soups, though. That could be problematic for some.

Hey, thanks for coming by today!

Anonymous said...

I guess this is the way it will go with all cans. But isn´t it strange how they blame metal prizes and still the new package will make the soup more expensive? :-) :-)

Have a great day!
Christer.

Anonymous said...

Though I am not a "blogger" I read and really enjoy your blog daily. Keep up the good work!!!!

Sixbears said...

Every time there is a packaging change, my first suspicion is that we'll be paying for the product.

On the other hand, I've been making my soup from scratch so long it's been ages since I've bought any in a can.

Ben in Texas said...

You do know that is just a way to package less and charge you more..
It's all marketing and more money for the compaines.

2 Tramps said...

Sure looks handy but probably expensive. Wonder how mice might like it? Milk in bags came out when I was a teenager - you would put the bag in a specially adapted plastic pitcher - but the idea never really took hold. Sometimes the old ways are still the best ways...

JoJo said...

Yes 2 Tramps I remember the milk bags. The only good thing with those was you could freeze them in the winter if you got snowed in.
But since when is plastic a green thing? Plastic does not break down.
And of course we pay more for less.
We can really discuss this over coffee this morning.

HermitJim said...

Hey Christer...
Guess the old adage of pay more and get less is once again going to come true!

Always the case, isn't it?

Thanks for coming by today, my friend!


Hey Anon 6:45...
Well, I'm certainly glad that you like reading here and that you continue to come by for a visit!

I'll probably continue to hope for folks to drop in regardless of the reason! I'll try and keep it interesting!

Many thanks for coming over!


Hey Sixbears...
I do know what you mean about the taste of home made soup! Nothing taste as good as home made!

We all know the cost is going to go up, as it did with coffee and such! Seems to be the norm now days!

Thanks, my friend, for coming by!


Hey Ben...
Guess they think we consumers are too dumb to figure that out!

In some cases, they are right! Some folks will spend more just for the novelty of it all!

Guess that's why the good marketing folks make the big bucks!

Either way, we get the hind end! Thanks, buddy, for coming by today!


Hey 2 Tramps...
I think I like the old ways much better! But I understand that nothing last for long any more!

Don't know what the mice would think! It would be nice to know!

I really appreciate you coming over today!


Hey JoJo...
I missed out on the milk thing, but I probably just wasn't paying attention!

Always great to see you, sweetie! Thanks for coming by today!

Mechanic in Illinois said...

This looks good for prepping and hunting. Sounds like they will pack well and you could always eat them right out of the pack if needed. Thanks for the neat info and have a great Sunday.

Unknown said...

(larder) is a new one to me.Iguess I lead a sheltered life!

HermitJim said...

Hey Mechanic...
I think that not needing a can opener is probably a good thing, but I wonder just what the shelf life is on the soup!

That seems to be what I look at first anymore!

I really appreciate the visit today!


Hey Ted...
What we call the pantry, many folks in England call the larder!

At least, that's my understanding!

Thanks for coming by today!

Phelan said...

I make my own soup so this won't affect me.

How long does this tube store for? One thing about cans is that the contents last awhile.

And the cost more feature is a turn off by far.

TROUBLEnTX said...

i remember when the coffee can went plastic and how my Mom was really not liking it. I told her, gosh u might like the plastic better! I did for sure. Love the handles. And lots of soup cans have the pop off lid now, so i'm not sure i will like the paper ones r not. Storage will sure have to change, lol.

HermitJim said...

Hey Phelan...
First thing I look at is the shelf life!

Home made is the best, as I told Sixbears this morning!

I can certainly get by without the higher cost...which we all know is coming!

Thanks for the visit today!


Hey Trouble...
Yep, storage is going to be problematic, I think!

Guess I just don't care for a lot of change! Too old and set in my ways, I reckon!

Thanks for coming by today!

Bob Mc said...

What about thick and chunky? Make your own. Nothing like a pot of soup simmering on the stove on a cold winter day.

HermitJim said...

Hey Bob...
Man, you got that right about the soup cooking on the stove on a cold day!

Some things just smell so good! Fresh baked bread, soup on the stove, meat on the grill, and fresh coffee in the pot!

Just gotta love it!

Thanks for coming by today!