The Fascinating History Behind Campbell S The Most Iconic Brand To Come Out Of New Jersey

A wide variety of popular brands were founded in, are headquartered in, or operate out of New Jersey. Examples include Johnson & Johnson, Bed, Bath & Beyond, and Toys R Us. The most iconic brand to come out of the Garden State has to be the Campbell Soup Company, more commonly known as Campbell’s.

Campbell’s was founded in 1869 by Joseph A. Campbell, a fruit merchant from Bridgeton and Abraham Anderson, a businessman and icebox manufacturer from Haddonfield. They sold canned tomatoes, vegetables, jellies, soups, condiments, and minced meats.

A.H. Markley/Wikipedia

In 1897, John T. Dorrance was hired. A brilliant chemist with degrees from MIT and Göttingen University, he developed a commercially viable method for condensing soup. By 1914, he was president of the company and he went on to buy out the Campbell family.

Joseph Campbell Company/Wikipedia

The soup cans were originally blue and orange! Their 1897 redesign was inspired by the bold red of Cornell University’s football team uniforms. The design hasn’t changed much over the years. It still features a center medallion, modeled after a medal the company received at the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle.

Babel/Wikimedia

By the 1950s, Campbell’s was one of the largest food companies in the world. They acquired a variety of brands including Pepperidge Farm, Goldfish, V8, Swanson, Prego, Pop Secret, and Snyder’s of Hanover. They once owned Godiva!

Wikipedia/Flickr/The Commons

Campbell’s has several ties to pop culture. Former president (then a young actor) Ronald Reagan was a spokesman in the 1940s. In the 1980s, the company released limited edition Star Wars cookies in chocolate, peanut butter, and vanilla.

Kevin Dooley/Flickr

Most notably, the cans were featured in art by Andy Warhol, now on display in New York’s Museum of Modern Art. Pictured is ‘32 Campbell’s Soup Cans’.

Joachim Fenkes/Flickr

Campbell’s products were manufactured in Camden for years. Now, you’ll find their global headquarters there. In 2008, the company pledged $10 million to the city’s Public Benefit Plan for community improvement.

Timviola/Wikipedia

They’ve had many slogans over the years, most famously ‘mmm mmm good.’ Do you agree?