5:15 p.m. EST February 14, 2014  Campbell Soup's shares surged 5% Friday after the company posted a 71% gain in fiscal second-quarter earnings.

The Camden, N.J.-based company said Friday that its net income for the three months-period that ended on Jan. 26 totaled $325 million, up 71% from the same period a year ago. The result includes a $90 million gain from selling a European soup business.

Sales of its Simple Meals division, which includes soup, rose 7% to $894 million.

Soup sales in the U.S. were 5% higher and holiday shipments of other dinner sauces and Prego white sauces also were "strong," the company said.

Adjusted earnings per share of 76 cents, excluding discontinued operations, beat analysts' estimates of 71 cents.

Shares of Campbell rose 5% Friday to end at $43.01.

Its fastest-growing business lines are baked goods and snacks, including Pepperidge Farm cookies and Goldfish crackers. The business unit that produces them reported a 14% sales jump worldwide to $639 million.

Kelsen Group, the maker of Danish butter cookies Campbell bought to expand in developing markets, "performed well" in China and Hong Kong, the company said.

"We anticipate a stronger second half from Pepperidge Farm, particularly in the 'Goldfish' franchise," said CEO Denise Morrison.

Quarterly revenue rose 5.5% to $2.28 billion.

Diversity in flavor

Sales of the Campbell's-branded soup, the company's flagship product that has been a staple for decades for families on budget, gained as eight new soups were launched last month. Joining the new lineup are the company's first Latin-inspired cooking soups, directly challenging the market dominance by competitor Goya Foods.

But sales of ready-to-serve soups were flat largely due to declines in microwavable varieties.

Cooking sauce sales in the U.S. rose 16%, as Prego pasta sauce remained popular and on contributions from the newly acquired Plum Organics.

During the quarter, Plum Organics announced a voluntary recall of several pouch products from its Baby Stage 2, Tots Mish Mash and Kids lines after discovering a "manufacturing defect."

"We expect a more meaningful contribution from Plum Organics as the products impacted by the voluntary recall in November return to shelf," Morrison said.

The company confirmed its fiscal 2014 earnings guidance, with sales in continuing operations growing by 4% to 5%.