Soup is one of the easiest and most comforting meals around, especially when the weather turns cold and you don’t fancy cooking. For more than a century, many British households have reached for a tin of Heinz, whether it’s Cream of Tomato, Chicken Noodle or Mulligatawny. Now, for the first time since it launched its tomato soup in the UK in 1910, Heinz is changing the way some of its soups are sold. The brand has introduced a new range of soups in pouches, designed to be easy to take to work or school.
The brand has launched soup in pouches in the UK for the very first time, moving away from its classic tins for this new range. The pouches are designed to make it easier to enjoy a warm meal wherever you are, making them handy for packed lunches. Heinz says it wanted to bring together the comfort of a bowl of soup with a format that suits busy lives. It’s one of the biggest changes to Heinz’s soup range in its 116-year history in the UK.
The four new flavours
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The new range includes four different soups, made with natural ingredients. They are: Butternut Squash and Spices, Chicken Broth and Garden Veg, Black Lentil Dhal, and Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato. Each soup provides up to three of your five a day in every portion. They also contain no added sugar, which makes them a lighter option than some other ready meals and snacks.
Soups packed with vegetables and pulses, such as lentils, can be a filling and nutritious lunch. As with any ready-made food, check the label for salt content, especially if you’re watching your intake.
One of the most useful things about the new pouches is that they don’t need to be kept in the fridge before they’re opened. That means you can store them in a kitchen cupboard, your bag, or a desk drawer at work until you’re ready to eat.
Once opened, check the packet instructions for how to heat the soup and how long it can be kept. Many pouches need to be poured into a bowl before microwaving, and any leftovers should go in the fridge and be eaten within the time shown on the pack.
Price and where to buy
The new soups have a recommended price of £2.25 per pouch. However, Tesco is currently selling them for £1.65 for Clubcard members as part of an introductory offer. The pouches are available now in Tesco stores across the country and online through Ocado. Offers like this don’t usually last long, so if you’re keen to try them, it could pay to pick some up while the lower price is available.
If you’re watching your budget, own-brand soups can be a great alternative. In a recent Which? taste test of tomato soups, Tesco and Sainsbury’s Cream of Tomato soups, both priced at just 59p for a 400g tin, came joint top with scores of 78%, beating Heinz. Tasters praised the winners for their creamy texture and a good balance of tangy and sweet flavours. Both were named best buys and great value choices, showing that spending more doesn’t always mean a better bowl of soup.
Making your own soup is simple.
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Homemade soup is one of the cheapest and easiest meals to make, and it’s a great way to use up leftover vegetables. Simply soften an onion in a little oil, add chopped vegetables such as carrots, potatoes or squash, cover with stock and simmer until soft, then blend until smooth.
Adding lentils, beans, or a handful of pasta can make your soup more filling. Making a big batch and freezing it in portions means you’ll always have a warming lunch ready to go, and you can take it to work in a flask to keep it hot.
Whether you go for a new pouch, a classic tin or something homemade, soup is a simple way to enjoy a warm, healthy meal during the colder months. Pouches may suit people who want something quick and easy to carry, while tins and homemade soups often offer better value.
Check labels for salt, sugar, and portion sizes when comparing options, as these can vary between brands. Trying a few different types will help you find the best mix of taste, convenience, and price for your lunchtime routine.
