The basics:
Campbell’s has remained headquartered in Camden for more than 155 years
Company credits innovation, brand evolution for long-term growth
Investments include a $50M headquarters expansion, local initiatives
Executive discusses Campbell’s future, iconic brands, community commitment
For more than 150 years, The Campbell’s Co. has called Camden home. And while the Philadelphia region’s business landscape has shifted, consolidated or relocated over the decades, the food giant has stayed put as part of a long-term commitment that has translated into sustained investment, jobs and community outreach.
Founded by Joseph Campbell and Abraham Anderson as a Camden-based producer of canned goods, Campbell’s is credited with revolutionizing the industry after its chemist, John Dorrance, invented condensed soup in 1897.
In the early 1900s, Campbell’s became a household name, particularly because of its marketing campaign featuring the Campbell’s Soup cans – an image that later inspired artist Andy Warhol.
Throughout the 20th century, Campbell’s grew rapidly, acquiring popular brands like Prego, Pepperidge Farm and V8, which further diversified its product offerings and helped position it as a leading global food company.
With four $1 billion brands (Campbell’s soup, Goldfish crackers, Pepperidge Farm baked goods and Rao’s Homemade sauces, soups, pastas and frozen meals), the company’s products are a fixture in kitchens across the country. Other Campbell’s banners include Late July, Chunky, Cape Cod, Kettle Brand, Pace, Pacific Foods, Swanson, Snyder’s of Hanover and Snack Factory Pretzel Crisps.
Secret to its staying power
While those brands have been successful because Americans are familiar with them, Campbell’s believes its staying power in the market can be credited to its ability to adapt alongside changing lifestyles, shifting consumer preferences and newer ways of cooking. That evolution has included acquisitions, product innovations, limited-edition offerings and a shift toward categories where Campbell’s sees growth potential.
The journey has also seen the company change its name in 2024 from Campbell Soup Co. to Campbell’s. Co. to better reflect its efforts to expand beyond soup into snacks, sauces and beverages.
The company has also entered a new leadership era in 2025, with Mick Beekhuizen becoming its 15th CEO and president. His predecessor, Mark Clouse, departed to become president of the Washington Commanders NFL franchise after six years leading Campbell’s.
In 2024, the company changed its name from Campbell Soup Co. to The Campbell’s. Co. to better reflect its efforts to expand beyond soup into snacks, sauces and beverages. – DEPOSIT PHOTOS
Like the rest of the consumer-packaged goods industry, the company continues to navigate a changing consumer environment.
For the quarter ending May 3, Campbell’s reported lower sales across both of its business segments, with Meals & Beverages revenue declining 4% to $1.426 billion and Snacks revenue falling 4% to $940 million compared with the prior-year period.
Did you know?
In 1869, Joseph Campbell, a wholesale fruit and vegetable vendor, and Abraham Anderson, a commercial canner and packer, formed Anderson & Campbell in Camden. The firm is now The Campbell’s Co.
With shoppers remaining value-conscious amid economic uncertainties, the CEO said Campbell’s is addressing that softer demand via investments in its brands, operational improvements and cost-saving initiatives aimed at strengthening overall performance.
Committed to NJ
And, at a time when many large corporations have relocated headquarters or operations to other states, Campbell’s remains deeply tied to New Jersey.
The company doubled down on that commitment to the state in 2023 by investing $50 million to upgrade and expand its headquarters amid a consolidation of its snack businesses. The changes added about 330 positions to Campbell’s Camden office, bringing the total local workforce to about 1,300 employees.
Campbell’s also continues to give back via community initiatives focused on food access, sustainability and neighborhood wellbeing in the areas where it operates. After its more than 13,700 workers company-wide completed over 27,000 volunteer hours during Fiscal Year 2025, Campbell’s was named as one of the 50 most community-minded corporations in the U.S. by nonprofit Points of Light.
Q&A
Jolly
NJBIZ conducted an interview with recently named Campbell’s Chief Communications Officer Beth Jolly on the company’s evolution, as well as continuing community engagement efforts and product innovation. The 23-year company veteran was tapped in June for the post after Anthony Sanzio announced plans to retire. The questions and answers have been edited for clarity.
NJBIZ: Campbell’s has called Camden home for more than 150 years. What has kept the company committed to staying and investing in the region through so many changes?
Jolly: Camden is part of Campbell’s identity. We were founded here more than 155 years ago, and generations of employees and families have helped shape our story. That history creates a deep sense of responsibility and commitment. We’re proud of our roots and continue to invest in Camden because our success and the community’s success go hand in hand.
Q: What does a long-term corporate presence mean for a community like Camden, and how has Campbell’s role in the region evolved over time?
A: Our involvement has evolved alongside Camden’s needs, but our commitment to the city has remained constant for more than 150 years. In addition to supporting food access, community development, and local nonprofits through philanthropy and employee volunteerism, Campbell’s has helped establish and support organizations that continue to serve Camden. Over the past five years, Campbell’s has made several multiyear funding commitments focused on improving food and nutrition security in the city of Camden, along with supporting the broader nonprofit community in the region:
Full Futures is a five-year, $5 million commitment to advancing the school nutrition environment, starting in our hometown of Camden. Through this initiative we funded and partnered with the Camden City School District and a half dozen community partners providing support to schools and the school community in the areas of food access, nutrition education, infrastructure and culture.
The Camden Food Fund – a fund that provides access to capital and technical assistance to food entrepreneurs who want to start or grow food businesses in the City of Camden. Campbell’s provided $1.25 million to launch the fund, including establishing a resident advisory board and providing funding for a pilot loan fund.
The South Jersey Resiliency Fund – an effort we spearheaded with the Community Foundation of South Jersey to provide unrestricted grant support to nonprofits experiencing surges in community need by pooling funding with other local grant-makers.
Cooking Matters is part of Campbell’s Full Futures program – a $5 million, five-year initiative aimed at improving nutrition in schools. The series of interactive cooking lessons is tailored to children, teens or families, and participants learn about dietary guidelines, prepare food in class and are then given ingredients to replicate recipes at home. – PROVIDED BY CAMPBELL’S
Employees who work out of our HQ offices in Camden are passionate about volunteering, with 90% of our Camden employees participating in our employee giving and volunteering programs, and almost 10,000 hours volunteered in the past year by Camden colleagues. In recent years, our work has also evolved from traditional philanthropic support to also include new areas such as small business support and local economic development, for example signing on to the Camden mayor’s ‘Buy Camden 1st’ initiative and hosting several small business bazaars at our HQ whereby employees spent over $10,000 with local small businesses in the first year of the initiative.
Our involvement has evolved alongside Camden’s needs, but our commitment to the city has remained constant for more than 150 years.
– Beth Jolly, chief communications officer, The Campbell’s Co.
We also expanded our internship program to include high school interns from a local Camden high school and expanded our career exploration programs to ensure that local students are exposed to careers at Campbell’s. Earlier this year, The Campbell’s Foundation announced a record-setting $1 million in Community Impact Grants to support nonprofits across communities where Campbell’s operates, including six organizations in Camden. These investments reflect our belief that strong communities are built through long-term partnerships and local engagement.
During a networking breakfast in 2022, Campbell Soup Co. recognized and celebrated organizations that made a significant positive impact in its hometown of Camden. – PROVIDED BY CAMPBELL’S
Q: Campbell’s has grown from a soup company into a broader food portfolio that includes brands like Pepperidge Farm, Goldfish, Rao’s Homemade and V8. How has the company adapted to changing consumer tastes and habits?
In 2025, Rao’s Homemade teamed up with Jenna Bush Hager to turn Thanksgiving Eve into the “Ultimate Pasta Night.” – PROVIDED BY CAMPBELL’S
A: Our iconic brands are at the heart of how we’ve evolved as a company. From Campbell’s, Pepperidge Farm, Goldfish and V8 to newer additions like Rao’s Homemade, we have built a portfolio of trusted brands that consumers know and love. As consumer preferences have changed, we’ve adapted by offering products that deliver the combination of great taste, quality, convenience and value that people are looking for today. Our portfolio spans a wide range of eating occasions; from quick snacks and convenient meals to premium sauces and beverages. At the same time, we continuously use consumer insights to understand emerging preferences and translate them into products and innovations that resonate with today’s households while staying true to what makes our brands special.
Q: Today, Campbell’s says its brands are in 95% of U.S. households. What do you think has allowed these brands to remain relevant across generations?
A: Trust is at the heart of it. Consumers have welcomed many of our brands into their homes for decades because they consistently deliver quality, taste and value. Equally important, our brands have evolved with consumers. Whether it’s introducing new flavors, modernizing product offerings, or finding new ways to engage with families, we’ve worked to remain relevant while preserving the qualities people already know and love. That balance of familiarity and innovation is what helps our brands connect across generations.
Q: How does Campbell’s balance the legacy of iconic brands with the need to innovate and introduce new products?
A: We see innovation as an extension of our brands’ strengths, not a departure from them. Our consumers trust our brands for a reason, so we focus on building on that foundation through new products, flavors and formats that meet evolving needs. It’s about honoring the heritage of our iconic brands while keeping them relevant for today’s consumers and future generations.
The Campbell’s Co. said its brands are in 95% of U.S. households. – PROVIDED BY THE CAMPBELL’S CO.
Q: As consumers continue to change how and what they eat – from convenience foods to healthier options – how is Campbell’s responding to those shifts?
A: Consumer needs are increasingly personalized, and our portfolio is built to meet consumers wherever they are on their journey. Whether they’re looking for convenience, protein-rich options, value or new flavors, we’re focused on delivering choices that fit how people live and eat today. The key is providing options that make it easier for people to enjoy foods they love in ways that work for them.
Q: With the U.S. marking its 250th anniversary and Philadelphia hosting major celebrations, why was this an important moment for Campbell’s to highlight its history and connection to the region?
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A: Campbell’s has been part of the American story for more than 155 years. As a company founded and headquartered in the Philadelphia region, our history reflects many of the themes that have shaped the country over time — innovation, manufacturing, entrepreneurship and community. Milestones like the nation’s 250th anniversary provide an opportunity to reflect on that history, recognize the generations of employees who helped build the company and reaffirm our commitment to the region we continue to call home. To mark the occasion, we celebrated with limited-edition releases from several iconic Snacks brands, including Pepperidge Farm’s Maggie’s Apple Pie cookies; Snack Factory’s Fireworks Berry Crème Pretzel Crisp; and patriotic packaging from Goldfish, Cape Cod, Lance and Snyder’s of Hanover.
Q: Looking ahead, what does the next chapter of Campbell’s growth look like — both for the company and for its continued presence in Camden?
A: For more than 155 years, Campbell’s has evolved alongside consumers, communities and the food industry. As we look ahead, our focus is on building on the strength of our iconic brands, putting consumers first, and continuing to earn a place in their lives for generations to come. And while the company continues to evolve, our roots remain important. We’re proud to remain headquartered in Camden and to continue investing in the community that has been part of our story from the beginning.