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It’s soup season, but the folks at Campbell aren’t singing “Mmm mmm good.” The world’s largest soup manufacturer announced yesterday that weak soup sales have taken some of the steam out of its earnings forecast—even though soup sales were on the upswing just two years ago as consumers dug in for the recession.

So what happened? The Wall Street Journal reports that industry execs blame it on a number of things, including competition from macaroni and cheese and big brands’ failure to fully promote soup’s convenience and potential health benefits.

That could mean better deals in the soup aisle, especially if you opt for a cheaper store brand. In Consumer Reports’ recent taste-off between store brands and name brands, Food Lion’s chicken noodle soup bested Campbell’s and was cheaper. For you foodies, Food Lion’s flavors were a little more intense and the dehydrated spice taste less pronounced. Campbell’s broth was oily, with fatty pieces of chicken. (See the video above for head-to-head tests between 20 other name and store brands).

To warm up your soup, check our report on microwave ovens and look for models that are very good at heating food evenly in our Ratings (available to subscribers). Or if you prefer a range or cooktop, use our reports and Ratings to find a model in your budget.

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