Heinz has started selling soup in microwaveable plastic pouches in the UK, marking a significant shift for a product range that has been a staple on British shelves for 116 years. The new format is available at Tesco and online at Ocado.
New ready-to-eat range
The company, which first brought tomato soup to Britain in 1910, is marketing the pouches as “ready-to-eat recipes”. Unlike metal tins, the plastic bags can be microwaved without first transferring the soup to a separate bowl.
Alessandra de Dreuille, Heinz’s director of meals, said the aim was to make warming up soup easier. She told Metro: “Heinz has always been committed to making mealtimes easier without compromising on great flavours.
“We wanted to create something new that combines the comfort of a bowl of soup with natural ingredients and a convenient format for busy lifestyles. With four delicious recipes to choose from, our new range offers a simple way to enjoy a warming and nutritious meal, at home or on the go.”
Four flavours on sale
The pouches come in four flavours: Butternut Squash & Spices, Chicken Broth & Garden Veg, Black Lentil Dhal, and Roasted Red Pepper & Tomato. Each 350g pouch retails for £2.25.
The bags were introduced in Canada last month, marking Heinz’s “first entry into Canada’s ready-to-eat soup category”.
No end for tins
Heinz has not suggested that its metal cans will be phased out. Soup tins are typically made from steel, rather than the aluminium used for canned drinks, and both metals can be recycled indefinitely without loss of quality, unlike plastic.
