Our distribution continues to grow across Canada and the US! You can search for a nearby store here.
Canned foods don’t need any added preservatives because the pressure cook itself eliminates any potential spoiling agents. By using verified cooking processes, we are able to make products, such as soups, with the same ingredients you might use when cooking in your own kitchen.
Our products are cooked inside the can inside oversized pressure cookers.
Yes.
Our tin-plated steel cans and lids have a BPA-free interior lining, which is approved by the CFIA and FDA for direct food contact. The lining is necessary to keep the metal can and food separated. Without a lining, the food could react with the can, which could compromise, flavour, quality, or even the integrity of the can itself.
In addition to being BPA-free and PFAS-free, the lining used is also free from:
We make every effort to source locally, whenever feasible. We are a big supporter of the Canadian organic farming movement and community.
For items that aren’t available locally - for example most spices aren’t grown in Canada - we source internationally from GFSI certified suppliers.
We avoid sourcing ingredients from China.
Sprague Foods is regulated by a number of government agencies and third-party organizations, including the CFIA, FDA, BRC, Organic, and Kosher.
We do not use plastic packaging because of its serious environmental impacts and concerning health implications to people (microplastics). Did you know that its estimated that we eat the equivalent of a credit card every week in microplastics? Cans and jars are infinitely recyclable and, unlike plastic, don't affect the quality of the food itself. Plastic packages claim to be recyclable, but the unfortunate reality is that we don't have the recycling infrastructure in place to process it, so plastic ends up in waterways, oceans, and landfills. Sprague supports the ever growing movement to curb the use of single-serve plastic for food and beverage products.
No. Although the majority of our products are vegan, we do use dairy in some products, either for flavour or to cater to certain diets, such as keto.
As for meat, we are not a registered meat facility, meaning none of our products can exceed 2% meat content. Only our "Petite Soups" (Thai Coconut Chicken, Chicken and Rice) and Cowboy Baked Beans have 2% or less meat inclusions.
A common theme across our soups is the fresh taste and our unique and creative spice blends, all of which are developed in-house.
We strive to make the best canned soup on the market, so quality is a primary focus for us. Like any food, a number of factors affect quality, such as the ingredients, preparation methods, and cooking process. We have refined our techniques over generations to make delicious, fresh tasting soups.
We avoid plastic packaging because we don't want to compromise the quality of the product and its shelf life.
When we launched in 1925, we canned vegetables under our “Mountain View” brand. In the 1940’s we changed to the “Sprague brand”, which is our family name. In the 1960s, we shifted focus to “co-packing” for other brands, which we continued for 50 years. In 2016, we started distributing nationally and we’ve been growing the Sprague brand ever since.
The 20th Century saw both the rise and fall of the Canadian canning industry. In our area alone, there were once 75 canneries in operation. Of those, we are the only one that continues to operate.
While a handful of canning facilities remain in Canada, the large canned food manufacturers have consolidated practically all of their canning operations in the United States and Mexico.
Minor Dent Policy
Please note that during shipment, cans may occasionally suffer minor dents. These dents, especially around the bottoms or sides of the cans, do not compromise the integrity or safety of the product inside as long as the seal remains intact. By proceeding with your purchase, you acknowledge and accept the possibility of receiving cans with minor dents, understanding that this does not affect the product's quality or safety. We do not ship cans with minor dents, but they can occur from time to time in shipping.