#32 – Campbell’s: Convenient Doesn’t Mean Harmless

“Connecting people through food they love.”

This is the purpose statement of Campbell’s, the New Jersey-based food company founded in 1869 by Joseph A. Campbell.

With over 150 years of history and a portfolio that includes Pepperidge Farm, Prego, Snyder’s of Hanover, V8, and Pacific Foods, Campbell’s has grown into one of the largest packaged food companies in North America.

Its soups, snacks, and pantry staples reach millions of households, offering familiarity, flavor, and affordability.

Yet the real question is: at what cost?

Behind the purpose of “connecting people through food they love” stands a solid business: Campbell’s generated $9.4 billion in net sales in FY2023, and remains a stable performer in the U.S. processed food industry.

But processed doesn’t mean harmless.

Convenience has a hidden price.

The environmental impact of large-scale food manufacturing (from packaging to supply chain, from water consumption to carbon emissions) is not a footnote. It is part of the equation.

Campbell’s has made steps toward sustainability, including reducing plastic packaging and setting climate targets aligned with the Science-Based Targets initiative.

But for companies like this, the challenge is not only innovating the product, it’s transforming the business model.

Because when a product costs less at the checkout but more to the planet, it’s time to rethink the meaning of “value”.