Man starts soup company with a heart for community

Published 10:30 am Tuesday, November 26, 2024

After holding managerial positions for nearly 20 years, Paul Hegg was ready to launch his own business. But most importantly, he wanted to create a company with a heart for community.

While working as the general manager of Sunriver Brewing Co.’s pub in Sunriver, he had an epiphany — soup.

Earlier this month, Hegg launched Central Oregon Soup Co., a small walk-up storefront selling soups with bold flavors, scratch-made stocks, pasta salads and housemade hummus. He also serves sandwiches for dipping, made with long, skinny baguettes filled with combinations like turkey and cheddar or prosciutto and mozzarella, which he calls “little dippers,” or “soup’s best friend.”

As customers purchase orders for a hearty bowl of sustenance, they can help a neighbor in need.

“I wanted to create a platform where the community can buy somebody a cup of soup, or a bowl of soup, or a gallon of soup and we can trust our community partners to get that into the hands of the people who really need it,” Hegg said.

One of Hegg’s hunger relief partners is Bend’s Family Kitchen. Within the first two weeks of operations, the soup company raised three gallons of soup for the nonprofit. Customers may purchase soup for their neighbors for half the retail price, or as little as $3 for a cup.

Big flavors

The soup begins with stock simmered from beef bones, chicken or vegetables. The broth, even by itself is healthy, as it’s infused with protein and vitamins, Hegg said.

Hegg is all about huge, big flavors. He incorporates Asian, Middle Eastern and American influences into his soups, with menu items such as the Southwest chicken corn chowder ($6 for 7 oz.) and the gluten-free and dairy-free Thai peanut curry ($6 for 7 oz.).

Chili oils give the Thai soup a kick, balanced by creamy coconut milk and bolstered with finely chopped carrots, onion, celery, bell peppers and tomatoes. A pull-apart roll by Big Ed’s swiped with a little garlic and rosemary butter and included with the soup, makes for a wonderful companion for dipping.

The number-one best seller so far has been the chicken and wild rice ($6 for 7 oz.), Hegg said, which in addition to its namesake ingredients, also includes carrots, celery, onion, garlic and mushrooms.

Last week, the rotating special was a beef stew ($8 for 7 oz), cooked with chunky potatoes and carrots, along with corn, celery, tomatoes, bell peppers and onions.

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Care for community

Once five gallons of soup are donated, Hegg prepares a batch of the same size to drop off at Family Kitchen, allowing it to be distributed to those who need it most.

As Hegg prepares batches of stew, chowder and chili, he’s thinking about community members without the means to purchase nourishing meals or fresh produce and are at the whims of food banks.

“Most of the options are just ultra-processed,” he said. “Being able to get these really hearty meals made from scratch is a big deal.”

Central Oregon Soup Co. welcomes walk-ins, DoorDash orders and online orders, which may be picked up at the storefront near Timbers. From Highway 20, turn south on Purcell Boulevard, east on Twin Knolls Drive and into the parking lot opposite of Windy Knolls Drive. The soup company is located inside Suite 2, a commissary kitchen known as Kindred Creative Kitchen.

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Details

What: Central Oregon Soup Co.

Location: 2525 NE Twin Knolls Drive, Suite 2, Bend

Contact: centraloregonsoupcompany.com, 541-668-4703

Hours: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday

Price Range: $6 for 7 oz., $11 for 14 oz. and $20 for 32 oz. for standard soups. $8 for 7 oz., $15 for 14 oz. and $28 for 32 oz. for specialty soups.