The £384m soup market has long suffered from seasonality usage and new product activity has taken place over the past few years to increase its year-round fortunes, especially in the chilled arena. While sales in the instant and packet/bowl sector continue to fall, the premium chilled soup sector is going from strength to strength. There has been a trend towards adventurous/ethnic flavours, premium positioning for instant soup through the use of added ingredients, more organic varieties, and innovations in packaging (particularly for ambient). Mintel's GNPD database finds new product development launches to be most prevalent between January and March. However, it is also interesting to note the rise in the number of launches during July and September. Summer NPD activity is partly attributable to the drive to push consumption, with cold summer flavours such as New Covent Garden Soup Co's Spinach, Watercress & Wild Rocket, as well as Courgette, and Parmesan & Thyme. Safeway offers Gazpacho and Carrot, and Orange & Coriander. Another manufacturer strategy has been the focus on packaging changes for adding value and convenience, for example a simple move from cans to pouches or from sachets to plastic bowls. Heinz Fridge Door, a 1-litre plastic bottled version of Heinz soups, launched last year, is designed to fit easily into a fridge and allows consumers to pour out the required content and leave the rest for another day, as it has a life of five days once opened. Campbell's launched a similar plastic bottled soup last year under the Homepride brand. The premium move in soups has fitted in well with the continuing demand for organic and natural products, mainly dominated by niche brands, such as Knorr, Campbell's and Heinz. Chicken & Leek and Scotch Vegetable Broth are additions to the Go Organic range of soups in a jar, and chilled organic soups have been added by Joubère. The total UK soup market is expected to show 11% growth at current prices during the 2001-04 period. l Commentary supplied by Mintel GNPD database. {{P&P }}