The Soup Aisle Commitment: Why We Show Up

At The Soup Aisle, we’re not a massive operation with corporate infrastructure – we are literally two people trying to feed our community well.

Just a small business running on genuine care, determination, and honesty.

We’re Here to Help You

First and foremost, if you’re ever confused about how our soup system works, please reach out to us. Seriously. Whether you’re new to our subscription model, unsure about customizations, have questions about ingredients, or just want to chat about soup—we want to hear from you. Our system might not be complicated, but our offer is unique.

We are a meal startup company that uses local ingredients and focuses on community first, and we’re committed to making sure you feel confident and supported in how you’re getting your soup! We’ve built The Soup Aisle with real people in mind. That means we think about the person with dietary restrictions who needs to know exactly what’s in every batch.

We think about people on tight budgets who need affordable, nourishing food.

We think about the customer with mobility challenges who needs flexible delivery options.

We think about caretakers managing someone else’s dietary needs alongside their own.

We think about folks who don’t want to think about choices and just want something simple, healthy, and fresh. (And if it just so happens to be a gourmet soup then bonus!! 🤣)

If any of these describe you—or if something else describes your situation—we want to know, and we want to help. We have an ever-evolving menu and we take requests! 😋

Behind the Scenes

Real talk: running The Soup Aisle means experiencing the beautiful chaos of a small business trying to do right by people. Yesterday, I found myself with no cell service in Kensington while messages were flooding in from customers about an order system glitch I couldn’t even see, much less respond to. There I am: Driving with a cooler full of orders and no way to text. The anxiety of that situation—knowing people were waiting for answers and I literally couldn’t reach them—that’s the stuff that keeps us going. Because the moment I had service again, fixing it became the priority. That’s just what you do when you actually care about the people you’re serving.

Fixing these issues are on the top of our list.

Customers aren’t looking for perfection from a two-person operation. They’re looking for honesty, effort, and the assurance that we care enough to make it right.

We’ve gotten better at our systems, and we’re still working on it. We’ve tightened our processes, and still we try harder. We’ve learned what to look for before problems happen, but mostly, we’ve learned that our customers appreciate knowing the person packing their soup is the same person who drives an extra 45 miles to fix a mistake. That matters.

Good service isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about genuinely listening to the response. It’s about remembering that the person ordering soup might be ordering it because they’re managing a health condition, recovering from something, caring for someone else, or simply trying to eat better, or think about more important things then stirring a pot for an hour. (That’s our job!!!) Our job is to make your life easier.

We Don’t Do This Alone

We want to give a special shout-out to Erin’s dad, who helps us with deliveries. Having family support this business isn’t just out of convenience. (Patrick needed help.)

The person that delivers your soup from us will always understand the value of what we do.

Let’s Connect

If you’re part of The Soup Aisle community, thank you. Thank you for trusting us with your meals, for being patient with our growing pains, for reaching out when something isn’t right, and for understanding that behind every bowl of soup is a real person committed to your satisfaction. You matter to us more than you know.

The Soup Aisle isn’t just ladling out soup — we’re trying to serve our community ridiculously good food at an honest price.

Opinions Are Like Spoons – Everyone’s Got ‘Em

Featured

The Great Soup Divide: Stirring The Pot

The air crisps up and suddenly everyone’s got an opinion about soup. It’s that time again—soup season—and while most people can agree on one thing (it’s the best season), the great soup debates are officially bubbling over.

Ask someone you know, “is cereal a soup?

Half the room tilts their heads, the other half pretends not to be personally offended. One person mutters something about “milk-based soup” 🤣 – another refuses to make eye contact and starts humming. Suddenly, your quiet dinner has turned into a philosophy seminar. Coworkers turn against each other. Welcome to the great soup divide—where ladles are drawn and wars are waged. (Well, not really but you never know!)

The Cereal Question That Started It All

Here’s where things get interesting — because structurally speaking cereal checks every box. Solid ingredients suspended in liquid, eaten from a bowl with a spoon. I thought that was soup 101.

So why does a cold bowl of milk and grains suddenly become controversial?

Rice and milk soups exist in Puerto Rico. Many cream of barley soups originated from Persia. Italian rice and milk soup dating back to the 1800’s. All grain plus milk, all genuinely recognized as soup across their respective culinary traditions. If those count, cereal’s structurally identical makeup becomes harder to dismiss on merit alone. (Plus, a lot of work went into making those delicious fortified grains!)

The counterargument usually comes down to this: cooking matters. Most soups require heat, and the kind of flavor-building that happens when ingredients meld together. Cereal skips that ceremony entirely—you just pour and eat. So maybe that’s the real divide?

Some people draw the line at intent. Others at temperature. A few stubborn folks still insist soup must be hot, warm at minimum, which—let’s be honest—is just gatekeeping. We accept gazpacho and vichyssoise as cold soups without question – and gazpacho doesn’t take any heat whatsoever to make.

Simmer Down or Soup Up

At The Soup Aisle, we believe people’s soup-pinions say a lot about them. Some of us are thick‑and‑hearty loyalists—the kind who believe a soup should stand on its own, no sides required. Others lean toward minimalist broths or puréed soups. Then there are the free spirits who treat every bowl like a chance to experiment, tossing in a dash of things until it feels just right. That’s not our style.

I guess that’s what makes soup beautiful: there’s no right way to love it. Soup is the great equalizer. Some people love it for making Pantry Raid Soup. Or call it what you will – wherever you’re from, people know those soups by unique names.

Fridge Forage Soup

Freezer Soup

Leftover Soup

Clean-Slate Soup

Kitchen Sink Soup 🤮

Surprise Soup 🤢

Scraps Soup 😬

A nice, warm bowl of soup softens sharp opinions and reminds us that good food is meant to be shared. (Preferably with someone who doesn’t judge you too much!)

Where Do You Land?

The cereal debate is just the tip of the bowl. The real question is about how we define the things we love – and whether those definitions even matter. Is a soup defined by what’s in it, or how it’s made? Or why you made it?

(Luckily, this is a soup blog and we’re not about to philosophize whether a hotdog is a sandwich.)

Whether you’re debating the philosophical nature of cereal, or just need something warm to carry you through the cold, we have so many comforting choices for you.

It’s Soup Season, and We’re Coming in Hot

Feel that? The air’s getting crisper, the nights are longer, and there’s this undeniable buzz in the air—that’s right, soup season is officially HERE. And let us tell you, The Soup Aisle isn’t just keeping pace; we’re revving up, ready to serve up all the warmth, comfort, and flavor you need to power through the cold months ahead.

Big Changes, Bigger Flavors

Starting now, we’re delivering fresh every Monday, so your week can start off cozy and stress-free. Your fresh soups arrive at the start of your week, giving you a boost of warmth right when you need it most.

And Amesbury, we’re officially in your neighborhood too! That means your favorite soups, your new weekly ritual, all just a quick doorstep away. Every Sunday, we send out your delivery times—so you know exactly when your order is coming.

Real Talk: Soup Saves The Day

Gone are the days of stressing about dinner plans. Our new Frozen Soup option makes it easier than ever to stock your freezer with your favorites—warm, delicious, homemade soup, whenever you need it. No mess – just spoon and enjoy.

How often do you open your fridge and it’s basically a culinary crime scene? “Ugh, all I have is cheese and bread.” But good thing you stocked up on that Frozen Tomato Basil Parmesan from The Soup Aisle. Three minutes later, and boom—warm, gourmet comfort that turns a last-minute meal into feast mode.

Or that one night when you’re running late and all you’ve got is a couple rolls from dinner a couple nights ago. Well, our Turkey Lasagna or Curry Squash Noodle pairs perfectly with that crusty bread, turning your pantry staple into a cozy, soul-soothing feast with zero effort.

We’re your local, online hub for soups, sides, and baked goods—all made with love and ready to bring some joy to your table.

Reward Yourself, Because You Deserve It

Introducing Aisle Miles — our new rewards program that’s designed for true soup lovers. Earn 25 miles for every order you place, and trade in those miles for sweet perks: discounts, free delivery, and other deals TBA. We believe in rewarding loyalty — because you’re part of our Soup Fam!

Cozy Up, Chill Out, and Dress the Part

We’re announcing our brand-new Soup Aisle Hooded Sweatshirt. Designed for cozy nights in, chilly mornings, winter walks…this hoodie is your new best friend. Whether you’re lounging at home or heading to the grocery store, this hoodie keeps you stylishly snug. And guess what? If you’re a Soup-scriber, you get a special discount on the hoodie — just message us to learn more! It ships directly to you, so you can start embracing those chilly vibes immediately.

The Perfect Holiday Gift

Our new Soup Gift Card makes it effortless to gift warmth and wellness. Send someone gourmet, handmade soup with zero hassle. No cooking, no prep — just pure comfort in a bowl, delivered from our kitchen to their doorstep.

Hold Onto Your Spoons

November’s menu is MASSIVE. We’re dropping flavors that’ll knock your socks off and keep you coming back for more. This is big flavor territory. Soul-satisfying soups to make your cold days warmer and your nights even cozier.

Nothing beats the feeling of coming home to a bowl of nourishing, flavorful soup, with the lights low and the world outside fading away. In the chaos of life, there’s always time for warmth, comfort, and a good bowl of soup.

Whether you’re celebrating Thanksgiving, winter festivities, or just staying in on a chilly night, wrap yourself in a hoodie embrace this season with The Soup Aisle.

Stay warm. Stay cozy.

-The Soup Aisle

The Art of Chicken & Stars: The Soup Aisle’s Signature Soup Masterpiece

This week at The Soup Aisle, we’re offering one of our signature soups, Chicken & Stars – a beloved classic reimagined. The delicate star-shaped pasta swimming in rich golden broth is beloved by soup enthusiasts of all ages. What transforms a simple soup into a signature offering worthy of celebration? The answer lies in our meticulous attention to detail and unwavering commitment to quality. Our Chicken & Stars begins with carefully selected ingredients – tender, premium chicken, hand-cut vegetables, and those delightful little pasta stars that bring a touch of whimsy to each spoonful.

The foundation of any exceptional chicken soup is its broth, and ours simmers slowly to develop remarkable depth of flavor. Our vegetables are diced for consistent cooking and visual appeal –carrots, celery, and sweet onions that add complexity and a delicate flavor balance.

The Star of the Show

The pasta stars themselves deserve special mention. These delightful morsels are added at exactly the right moment in the cooking process to achieve perfect al dente texture. What makes star-shaped pasta so beloved? Perhaps it’s the touch of joy they bring to the bowl, or how they recall childhood comforts while still satisfying sophisticated palates. Whatever the reason, there’s something profoundly comforting about star-shaped pasta swimming in a nutritious and satiating soup. For many people, this soup evokes cherished memories – perhaps of meals enjoyed during childhood winters.

A Soup for All Seasons

While many associate chicken soup with cold weather comfort, our Chicken & Stars soup transcends seasonal boundaries. Its bright, clean flavors make light enough to enjoy even as temperatures rise. We also make a vegetarian version using plant-based chick’n which we are excited to be offering sometime next month!

This week, we invite you to experience a signature offer that embodies our commitment to excellence in every bowl we serve – Chicken & Stars soup from The Soup Aisle.