-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 TsivxCzzRP4s5VKwEnUQU+6tDU1JYIq0tvLnSOVqx3kwh2jSK8dx002DOjZLD0hn
 eKLEKCoMzezvRB7ZLD21dA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000016732-03-000059.txt : 20031017
<SEC-HEADER>0000016732-03-000059.hdr.sgml : 20031017
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031017095220
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000016732-03-000059
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031016
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031017

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CONANT DOUGLAS R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001194077

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-03822
		FILM NUMBER:		03944937

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE CAMPBELL PLACE
		CITY:			CAMDEN
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08103

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CAMPBELL SOUP CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000016732
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FOOD & KINDRED PRODUCTS [2000]
		IRS NUMBER:				210419870
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NJ
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0729

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CAMPBELL PL
		CITY:			CAMDEN
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08103
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8563424800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CAMPBELL PL
		CITY:			CAMDEN
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08103
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-10-16</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000016732</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CAMPBELL SOUP CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>cpb</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001194077</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CONANT DOUGLAS R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-10-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2003-10-16</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1132</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>26.7</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1132</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>165391</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">1-for-1</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Shares of phantom stock are payable in cash or stock from the Company's Deferred Compensation Plan upon reporting person's retirement, resignation or termination.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>John J. Furey, Attorney In Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-10-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----