Whether served as a snack, quick pick-me-up or a replacement meal, today’s soups and appetizers are hot with new products and tastes. The category is worth more than $10 billion with store brands enjoying the biggest growth as retailers add more adventurous, international and healthy choices to the shelves. The traditional franks-in-a-blanket now vies for space with savory pork lumpiaspring rolls, indulgent brie and apple fig-filled spanakopita and better-for-you Italian vegetable with farro soup. Bob Vosburgh details the major trends influencing the category, and who’s preparing the next course for further growth.