We craft all our soups, broths and foods from authentic recipes using only the highest
quality ingredients. We are dedicated to making better taste better for you. We
believe that food should always be delicious, and there is no reason that delicious
food can’t fit within your diet. At Progresso, we love great food. It’s been our
passion for more than 50 years.
Early 1900s
Emigrating from Italy to the United States, The Uddo and Taormina families missed
their traditional Italian foods so much they began to ship olive oil from their
home in Italy—first for themselves, then for their friends and family in the United
States. In 1905 V. Taormina and Company was established as an importing company
in New Orleans. In 1913, Joseph Uddo also started an importing business in the same
city. The Uddo and Taormina companies eventually merged in 1925 to form the Uddo
and Taormina Corporation.
1927
The Uddo and Taormina families opened another importing business in New York City
that soon joined forces with the New Orleans operation. The Progresso Italian Food
Company was born. The company seal and name Progresso (meaning “progress” in Italian)
was designed to communicate the vision of progress, a cornerstone of the Progresso
philosophy.
1942
Because the war made importing goods from overseas extremely difficult, Progresso
decided to pack products domestically, including peppers, olives, eggplant (caponata)
and beans. These and other foods were delivered door-to-door to neighborhood shops.
1942
Sourcing product and manufacturing space became difficult in the New York operation.
Progresso moved to Vineland, New Jersey, about one mile from the current Progresso
Plant. Progresso owners looked to Vineland for its rich farmlands to pack their
own vegetable products, barreled peppers and tomatoes. Many generations of the families
were involved in the day-to-day operations of the plant.
1949-1959
Italian soup and beans gain a following when Mama Taormina’s contributions to the
first Progresso soups were taken from real family recipes. They included Minestrone,
Lentil, Mac and Bean (Pasta E Fagioli) and Escarole. The recipes were written on
the wall, and the soups were made with the same ingredients and in the same way
as the homemade soups.
1949
Progresso introduced the first canned ready-to-serve soup in America.
1974
The Progresso Soup business continued to grow. Starting in 1974, three to five new
soup flavors were being added to the product line each year. Production began to
shift from seasonal, co-packed, and imported products to soup.
1983
The image of Progresso grew from an Italian Import Company to a Quality Soup Company
with an Italian Heritage. Progresso officially became known as a “soup” company
in the industry.
1996
Pillsbury acquired Progresso.
2001
General Mills merged with Pillsbury.
2006
Progresso introduced the Reduced Sodium line, offering consumers their favorite
flavors with heart healthy sodium levels.
2007
Progresso introduced Progresso Light soup, the only brand endorsed by Weight Watchers.
2008
Progresso entered the broth category with 3 great-tasting flavors.
2008
Progresso Foods introduced its newest gourmet bread crumb, Panko, in two flavors,
plain and Italian.
2009
Progresso introduced four delicious High Fiber soups with 28% of the daily value
of fiber per serving.
Over 100 years ago, the business now known as Progresso Foods started. A young Sicilian,
Vincent Taormina, first imported foods from Italy to meet the need for high-quality
ingredients familiar to Italian-Americans.
As more family members became involved and importing grew both in volume and locations,
the business merged in 1927 to become the Progresso Italian Food Corporation and
the Progresso label was born.
