Campbell says it will extend V8 to soups

CAMDEN, N.J. Campbell is announcing the latest addition to its V8 juice brand line-up; soups. The company has announced that it will add several V8-inspired soups to its Campbell’s Select Gold line.

Playing off of V8’s characteristic “eight vegetables-per-serving” reputation, the new line of soups will boast more nutrients and a rich, vegetable taste, company representatives said. The soups will be packaged in clean, green, streamlined containers.

Ads will debut on TV in September and in print in October in publications including Better Homes and Gardens, Woman’s Day and Cooking Light. Soup flavors will include garden broccoli, golden butternut squash, and sweet red pepper. Although no information has yet been released as to the company’s advertising spending, the Nielsen Monitor-Plus reported that last year Campbell Soup spent $525 million on advertising for its brands and $235 million this year, through May 2008.

Campbell first expanded on its V8 line in 1997, introducing V8 Splash, a line of juices blended with fruits and vegetables. V8 Splash brought in about $100 million in sales in its first year on shelves.