Soups

A hug in a bowl

O n a c h i l l y d a y – n o t h i n g b e a t s t h e c o s i n e s s f a c t o r i n s t a n t l y p r o v i d e d b y a s t e a m i n g h o t b o w l o f s o u p . T h e S c a n d i n a v i a n t r e n d ‘ h y g g e ’ – w h i c h r o u g h l y t r a n s l a t e s a s ‘ e m b r a c i n g t h e a r t o f c o s i n e s s ’ – h a s b e c o m e h u g e l y o n t r e n d i n r e c e n t y e a r s a n d s o u p p e r f e c t l y a l i g n s w i t h t h i s m i n d s e t , w r i t e s G i l l i a n H a m i l l

At this time of year, when the dark evenings are drawing in and there’s a distinct nip in the air, soup is a natural choice for many consumers due to its inherent restorative, comforting nature and high nutritional value.

In its latest report on Ireland’s soup sector, Euromonitor reported that chilled soup gained from consumers’ switch to lockdown lifestyles. According to the analyst, “foodservice outlet closures in 2020 had a positive impact on

Now that the weather is getting colder, soup is the perfect healthy and natural fast lunch. All Cully & Sully soups are made in Ireland. What’s more, the entire range is gluten free and made with the finest fresh ingredients. And for consumers on the hunt for a supper quick tasty supper, Cully & Sully’s new Risottos are an ideal option. Check out

Heart-warming and healthy

New Cully & Sully Risottos are perfect for a

quick and tasty supper

What’s more, they’re sustainably packaged in infinitely recyclable cans – another thing to feel good about.

New Heinz Plant Proteinz Soups are available now in two tasty and exciting flavours, with an additional flavour available from early 2022, all suitable for vegans, vegetarians, and flexitarians.

The range includes the following options:

• Mediterranean Tomato & Bean

A mouth-watering Mediterranean style tomato

www.cullyandsully.com/rocking-risotto for recipe ideas. shelf stable, chilled and instant soup, as they provide an easy to prepare alternative to a home-made meal”.

“Chilled soup is anticipated to compete strongly with ready meals and other quick-toprepare meals during the forecast period,” Euromonitor added, “as it is perceived as a fresh, nutritious meal. Chilled soup is also anticipated to receive a boost in the shortterm from office workers returning to work.”

Another key trend observed by Mintel was

Soups - bursting with real, plant-powered goodness including vibrant veggies and protein-packed legumes - it’s now quicker and easier than ever to enjoy a healthy and tasty plant-based meal.

Each can of Heinz Plant Proteinz Soup is packed with a whopping 14-15 grams of protein, is a source of fibre and provides two of an individual’s five-a-day, providing a delicious, nutritious, and affordable meal in minutes. Just open the can, heat, and eat! that stockpiling drove retail sales of shelf stable and instant soup. According to its 2020 market report, shelf stable and instant soup showed stronger current value growth in 2020, thanks to their generally low price and long expiry dates, both factors which continue to make them sought-after products for stockpiling during the colder months.

As in many other sectors, plant-based options are also increasingly making their mark within the soup category.

All Cully & Sully

soups are gluten

free and made

in Ireland with

the finest fresh

ingredients

Soup-er tasty plant-powered

protein

Consumers’ search for that elusive plant-based meal that’s quick, easy, healthy, and delicious is finally over, thanks to new Heinz Plant

Proteinz Soups.

In a recent Twitter poll, 68% of consumers said that they struggle to get enough plantbased protein. But with Heinz Plant Proteinz

Shopper behaviour shows marked differences between chilled and packet/

can soup segments

You might think that shopper behaviour is similar in chilled soup and packet & can soup. However, Shopper Intelligence’s survey data reveals key differences between the two types. Chilled soup is more often bought on a top-up shop than packet/can soup, and it’s also a stronger loyalty driver to retailers. Find out more differences and what actions you can take, in the below infographic:

How do we buy Chilled vs Packet Soup?How do we buy Chilled vs Packet Soup?How do we buy Chilled vs Packet Soup?

Key Key differences in in Ir Iris ish shopperh shopper behaviour

% bought on a Top Up shopping mission (not a main shop)

40%

30%

Importance of premium choices (1-5 scale average)

3.3 3.0

1

Chilled Soup Packet/Can

Chilled Soup is more often purchased n a Top Up shopping mission (rather than a main shop) than Packet/Can Soup.

2

Chilled Soup Packet/Can

Shoppers rate the importance of Premium tier higher in Chilled Soup (ranked 16 out of 127 categories) than in Packet/Canned Soup.

Disrupt in-store for Chilled Soup, remind of the occasion. Put more focus on premium range in Chilled Soup. % Loyalty driver to retailer

26%

2%

3

Chilled Soup Packet/Can

Good performance on Chilled Soup is more likely to drive loyalty to the retailer than Packet/Can.

Stand out on Chilled Soup to use it as a shopper magnet.

Colm Rooney, Country Manager Ireland colm.rooney@shopperintelligence.com

With each can of Heinz Plant Proteinz

offering 14-15g of protein, it’s the

perfect way to perk up mealtimes

soup with haricot beans, garlic, and thyme. With 14g of plant protein, it’s a nutritious and great-tasting meal in one.

• Moroccan Chickpea & Bell Pepper

This flavoursome meal is packed with 15g of protein and made with tasty Moroccan chickpeas, bell peppers and haricot beans.

• Coconut Curry & Jackfruit

Joining the line up in early 2022 is the deliciously warming coconut curry soup with haricot beans, chickpeas, and jackfruit. It’s bursting with bean goodness, with 14g of plant-based protein per can and making up two of an individual’s five a day.

New Heinz Plant Proteinz Soups; Mediterranean Tomato & Bean and Moroccan Chickpea & Bell Pepper are now available in supermarkets nationwide. Coconut Curry & Jackfruit will be available early 2022 (RRP €1.99 for 400g).

Luxuriously smooth

This autumn, as soup season arrives, Avonmore is back with an exciting, limitededition launch into its 400g tub, premium soup range. Launching since mid-October, into the three multiples, Avonmore’s new Sweet Potato, Carrot and Turmeric Soup boasts a silky smooth texture, using fresh sweet potatoes, aromatic spices and finished with swirls of coconut milk.

This limited-edition flavour does not contain any gluten, dairy or animal produce, making it suitable for both the coeliac and vegan consumer. The limited-edition launch will be supported with in-store POS, as well as extensive digital advertising. Avonmore also supports its soup range throughout the year through its sponsorship of the weather on RTÉ television.

The new, limited-edition Sweet Potato, Carrot and Turmeric Soup will join an already impressive range of five premium soup

flavours created by Avonmore’s very own award-winning chef Barry Foley.

Avonmore’s new limited-edition Sweet

Potato, Carrot and Turmeric Soup has a

silky smooth texture

Broth beauty

Innovative broth brand, Sadie’s Kitchen is set to expand its range with a vegan offering early next year.

The award-winning Irish female-founded company currently holds two SKUs, Free Range Irish Chicken and Irish Beef Bone Broth.

It marks an exciting time for the brand after securing a central listing with Dunnes Stores earlier this year.

“2022 will see the business resume our food service offerings,” said founder Sarah Kiely, “and also diversify the range across the category with the better-for-you options and freshness that our customers and retailers have grown to anticipate from our business.” ■

Sadie’s Kitchen will diversify with a vegan

offering in early 2022