Americans Cooking at Home Most Since Early Pandemic, Campbell's Reports

Campbell's CEO Mick Beekhuizen reported a 4% increase in net sales during the company's recent quarterly earnings, attributing the growth to a surge in home cooking to the highest levels since early 2020. This trend reflects consumers' cautious spending amid economic pressures linked to ongoing trade conflicts and tariff escalations, particularly on aluminum and steel, which impact Campbell's supply chain. Beekhuizen noted that consumers are making more deliberate food choices, favoring condensed soups, broths, and sauces that stretch tighter food budgets. The heightened tariffs imposed under former President Trump's trade policies have faced legal challenges, adding to market uncertainty and consumer fatigue, as evidenced by persistently low consumer sentiment indexes. Despite these challenges, Campbell's brands like Pepperidge Farms, Rao's, and Cape Cod Potato Chips are benefiting from the shift toward value, quality, and convenience in home-prepared meals. Overall, Campbell's strong sales performance underscores the growing preference for home-cooked meals amid economic and trade-related headwinds.