People living alone who want to avoid leftovers
You’re looking for an amount that’s right for one meal. The number of portions and the total volume will help you tell an individual container from a format that needs to be split across several meals.
Who are these formats for?
People who prefer quick preparation
A sachet to prepare or soup to heat up may suit your routine. Just check whether you’re buying a single unit or a multipack.
People who pay attention to ingredients
Before ordering, you want to check the ingredients list, listed allergens and nutritional values, particularly the salt content. Also consider how much you plan to eat.
What should you check before ordering?
The container and quantity will help you work out whether the soup is suitable for one meal. Then check the preparation method and label to narrow down the formats that could work for you.
Instant soup sachets
Worth considering: if preparing a portion with hot water suits the way you plan to use it.
Bear in mind: Carrefour and Auchan list Royco products in packs of 3 or 4 sachets. These aren’t ready-to-eat soup in a metal tin.
2 × 30 cl cartons
Worth considering: if two containers of soup ready to heat suit the meals you have in mind.
Bear in mind: the Régal Soupe format listed by E.Leclerc is a pack of two cartons, not an individual metal tin.
500 ml or 1 L formats
Worth considering: if you plan to split the soup across several meals or share it.
Bear in mind: these sizes listed by ALDI may leave you with leftovers once opened; on their own, they don’t indicate a single serving.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Portion and container | Container type, net quantity and number of units or portions. | I want to open the soup for a single meal without having to plan what to do with leftovers from a large container. Around 36% of consumers prioritise portion size. |
| Preparation | Preparation instructions and the volume made when it’s a sachet. | If I need a quick meal, I should know whether the soup needs hot water or needs heating. For around 29% of consumers, ease of preparation comes before other criteria. |
| Ingredients | Ingredients, listed allergens and salt content per 100 ml or 100 g; take the amount you’ll eat into account. | I compare recipes before choosing, especially if I need to avoid an ingredient. Ingredients are the top priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Local ordering | The format actually available and the collection or delivery options for your selected shop. | I want to add the right pack to my order and collect it or have it delivered, depending on what’s available to me. This is the main priority for around 14% of consumers. |
Common mix-ups to avoid
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Assuming the word “box” means it’s tinned
A box may contain several sachets. Carrefour and Auchan list Royco soups in this format, while E.Leclerc also lists soups in cartons.
On the product listing, check the container material, number of units and net quantity rather than relying on the category title.
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Choosing a recipe without reading the label
A soup’s name doesn’t tell you all its ingredients or allergens, or how its salt content compares with another product.
Check the ingredients and nutritional information before ordering, then read the label on the product you receive, especially if you need to avoid an ingredient.
Brands to know when comparing formats
Royco
Carrefour and Auchan list Royco dehydrated or instant soups in packs of 3 or 4 sachets; some products specify a prepared serving of 20 cl.
- Sachets let you prepare one portion at a time, as long as the resulting volume suits you.
- A box of sachets isn’t an individual metal tin.
Marque Repère / Régal Soupe
E.Leclerc lists Régal Soupe products including 2 × 30 cl cartons and 1 L formats.
- A pack of two cartons gives you two separate portions.
- It isn’t the same as buying a single tin; with the 1 L format, you’ll need to plan for several servings.
Les Printanières
ALDI lists an assortment of 500 ml soups under this brand, as well as 1 L velouté soups.
- These sizes may be worth considering for several meals or for sharing.
- The volume alone doesn’t confirm that it’s a single serving or a metal tin; check the packaging of the product available at your shop.
Simplement Bon & Bio
ALDI lists 1 L soups under this brand, including a seven-vegetable soup and a vegetable and red lentil velouté.
- This format may be worth considering if you’re planning several meals.
- A 1 L container isn’t, by itself, suitable if you’re looking for a single serving.
Joybuy products
Products related to this topic will be available soon.
Frequently asked questions
How can you tell if it’s a genuine individual tin?
Check that the product listing specifies a metal tin, its net quantity and a number of portions suited to your meal. A box containing several sachets or a pack of cartons won’t meet the same need. Also check the preparation instructions.
What information should you compare before ordering prepacked soup?
Compare the product name, net quantity, ingredients, listed allergens and nutrition declaration, then check the date shown on the product you receive. The Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control highlights the importance of this labelling information for prepacked foods.
How can you compare the salt content of two soups?
Check the amount of salt per 100 ml or 100 g on comparable products, then take into account the portion you’ll eat. Manger Bouger recommends that adults consume no more than 5 g of salt a day; this is general guidance and doesn’t replace personalised dietary advice.