Kraft Heinz brings soup outside the can to Canada

Kraft Heinz (KHC) announced on Wednesday that it is launching a Canada-exclusive collection of six ready-to-eat soups in easy-to-open bags. The initiative will see nationwide distribution beginning this month. Notably, the food giant said the product introduction will be its first entry into Canada's ready-to-eat soup category and the first such bagged format from a major brand in that market.

The six varieties are Homestyle Chicken Noodle, Thai Style Chicken Coconut Curry, Hearty Tomato and White Bean, Cheesy Potato, Rich Mushroom, and Curry Butternut Squash. Kraft Heinz (KHC) is marketing them as convenient alternatives to homemade or restaurant-style soup, emphasizing richer flavors, hearty textures, and preparation without a can opener or additional ingredients.

The launch targets a popular but largely can-based category since NielsenIQ figures data indicates that 76% of Canadians purchase soup, and more than 80% of ready-to-eat and condensed soup is still sold in cans.

"Soup is a category Canadians already love, but one that we believe is ready for something new. We’ve paired carefully crafted recipes with a more convenient format to deliver a satisfying, ready-to-eat option for the aisle," highlighted Kraft Heinz Canada Chief Marketing Officer Kelly Fleming.

In the U.S., Kraft Heinz (KHC) already offers soup outside cans, notably through its foodservice business rather than an equivalent mainstream grocery collection. Heinz TrueSoups includes frozen, ready-to-heat soups in bulk bags for restaurants, cafeterias, and commercial kitchens. Kraft Heinz's (KHC) U.S. foodservice portfolio also lists Chef Francisco soups in bags and tubs.