Swedish soldiers secure missing pea soup dinner

Deviating from the Swedish tradition of serving pea soup on Thursdays turned out to be an expensive mistake for caterers to the Swedish Armed Forces (Försvarsmakten).

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The Blekinge county wing, stationed in southern Sweden, recently decided to change their restaurants' caterer after heavy criticism from soldiers missing the traditional Thursday fare, according to regional newspaper Blekinge Läns Tidning.

The soldiers disliked the small portions they received, and were displeased when the traditional pea soup was taken off the menu one Thursday too many, replaced with sausage stew and fish dishes.

Pea soup is traditionally served for Thursday's dinner, along with pancakes for afters.

The Swedish Armed Forces have long been soup-enthusiasts, and have even boasted their own line of canned pea soup, known as "Försvarets ärtsoppa" sold in well-stocked Swedish supermarkets.

Sodexho, the catering firm that had provided the Blekinge Wing's food for the last four years, have thus lost a contract worth roughly 300 million kronor ($47 million).

From now on, catering company Scandinavian Facility Management will be in charge of the menu, which is likely to include pea soup and pancakes on Thursdays.