What to buy for a soup campaign

A soup campaign needs more than soup ingredients. You will also need enough bowls, spoons, serving equipment, cooking capacity, drinks and clear allergen information for the people attending. Plan tableware by guest count, then add a small buffer for spills, seconds and volunteers. Check electrical capacity before buying or collecting equipment, especially if you are using soup kettles, induction plates, coffee machines and kettles at the same time.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Tablesqty 10
Chairsqty 100
Buffet tablesqty 3
Coat racksqty 2

Tableware

Soup bowlsqty 150
Soup spoonsqty 150
Drinking glassesqty 150
Coffee mugsqty 60
Serving spoonsqty 8
Serving traysqty 6

Kitchen

Large cooking potsqty 6
Cutting boardsqty 6
Chef’s knives and bread knivesqty 8
Measuring jugsqty 4
Food containersqty 12
Kitchen tongsqty 4

Equipment

Soup kettlesqty 6
Induction platesqty 6
Extension cordsqty 8
Power stripsqty 5
Coffee machinesqty 2
Kettlesqty 2
Coolersqty 3
Thermometersqty 4
Cash boxesqty 2

Decorations

Tableclothsqty 10
Action bannersqty 3
Donation signsqty 4
Menu boardsqty 4
Allergen cardsqty 12

Lighting

LED lightsqty 8

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 6
Bucketsqty 4
Mopsqty 4
Broom setsqty 3

Catering

Groceries
- Onions - 8 kg
- Carrots - 10 kg
- Leeks - 8 kg
- Celery - 3 kg
- Potatoes - 10 kg
- Bell peppers - 5 kg
- Zucchini - 5 kg
- Mushrooms - 4 kg
- Diced tomatoes - 20 cans
- Chickpeas - 10 cans
- White beans - 10 cans
- Vegetable bouillon - 150 cubes
- Olive oil - 3 liters
- Salt - 1 kg
- Black pepper - 250 g
- Paprika powder - 250 g
- Curry powder - 250 g
- Thyme - 100 g
- Parsley - 200 g
- Cooking cream - 6 liters
- Whole wheat bread - 12 loaves
- Baguettes - 12 pieces
- Butter - 3 kg
- Hummus - 2 kg
- Cheese - 2 kg
- Apples - 10 kg
- Bananas - 8 kg
- Spa Blauw - 12 bottles
- Spa Rood - 8 bottles
- Apple juice - 12 liters
- Orange juice - 12 liters
- Cola - 8 bottles
- Cola Zero - 8 bottles
- Coffee - 4 packs
- Tea - 200 bags
- Milk - 8 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Sugar - 2 kg
- Lemons - 2 kg
- Paper napkins - 500 pieces
- Paper towels - 8 rolls
- Trash bags - 50 pieces
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Paper towels - 8 rolls
- Hand soap - 4 bottles
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Nitrile gloves - 4 boxes
- Aluminum foil - 4 rolls
- Plastic wrap - 4 rolls
- Labels - 200 pieces

Tips

Count one soup bowl and one soup spoon per guest, then add 10% extra. Include separate serving spoons and trays so guests do not use their own cutlery at the buffet.
Plan two to three drinks per person for the first hour, including water and any chilled drinks. Add coffee mugs, glasses, coffee, tea and hot water if drinks will be served alongside the soup.
Allow at least one large cooking pot or soup kettle for each soup variety. If soup is prepared in advance, include food containers for transport and check that reheating equipment can hold the full quantity safely.
Buy or prepare allergen cards before shopping day, not during setup. Label every soup and topping clearly, and keep the cards next to the buffet rather than at the entrance.
Check extension cords, power strips and thermometers 24 hours before the campaign. Test every electrical appliance together so you know the available sockets can handle the soup kettles, induction plates and hot-drink equipment.

Frequently asked questions

How many soup bowls do I need per person?: Plan one bowl per guest plus a 10% reserve. For 50 guests, that means 55 bowls, along with at least 55 soup spoons.
How much soup should I prepare for a soup campaign?: Allow about 400–500 ml per person if soup is the main meal. For 50 guests, prepare 20–25 litres, with extra capacity if seconds are expected.
How many drinks should I buy for a soup campaign?: Budget two to three drinks per person for the first hour. For 50 guests, that is 100–150 servings, including water, chilled drinks and hot drinks.
When should I check the equipment for the soup campaign?: Check cooking and serving equipment at least 24 hours before the event. Test soup kettles, induction plates, extension cords, coffee machines and kettles together before setup day.

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