A CEO’s Perspective: Harmonizing Legacy and Innovation with Campbell Soup Company

Mark Clouse entered Campbell Soup Company in 2019 as its 14th CEO in the company’s 153-year history. Recognizing the upheaval that the food industry has been undergoing for the last decade and the need for a fresh strategic direction in a rapidly evolving business landscape, Mark sought to define a new, resonant purpose that would guide the company's decisions and inspire employees, customers, and stakeholders alike.

But as a long-lived company, it was vital for the purpose to evoke Campbell’s legacy while shaping a new chapter of the iconic company’s story.

We invited Mark Clouse to share the journey behind Campbell’s purpose: “Connecting people through the food they love.” Accompanied by a set of new and compelling values, the purpose has become the driving force behind the company’s recent transformation – from their steadfast commitment to their hometown in Camden to its new employee value proposition. Through this lens, Campbell has embarked on a transformative journey that builds off the company’s impact over the last 150+ years.

Listen for C-level insights on:

Being a steward for a legacy companyAbsolutes and direction for re-shaping a purposeHow purpose enables a company to simultaneously create sustainable shareholder value and better society and the environmentAI and its role in business today

Resources + Links:

Mark Clouse’s LinkedInCampbell Soup Company’s Purpose and ValuesFull Futures
(00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
(00:13) - Campbell's
(01:46) - Meet Mark Clouse
(05:00) - Being a Steward
(06:56) - Campbell's Purpose
(10:01) - 'Through Food', Not 'To Food'
(11:22) - Purpose vs. Mission vs. Vision
(13:22) - Absolutes for Purpose
(15:07) - The Five Cs
(18:00) - Camden and Full Futures
(23:24) - Volunteerism
(24:12) - New Employee Value Proposition
(26:30) - E, S, and G Pillars
(29:14) - Accountability
(30:49) - Integrating AI
(32:53) - Mark's Last Word
(34:36) - Wrap Up