March 6 (Reuters) - Campbell Soup topped market expectations for quarterly sales and profit on Wednesday and stuck to its annual forecasts, helped by steady demand for branded ready-to-eat meals, snacks and canned soups.

Prices across Campbell's products rose 1% while overall volumes dipped 2% during the reported quarter, as holiday promotions encouraged shoppers to indulge in its Goldfish crackers and Pepperidge Farm cookies.

The pace of price increases has slowed from last year's mid-double-digit rise, as most food companies try to limit pricing to cope with subdued demand.

Packaged foods peers Kraft Heinz, Mondelez, McCormick, Hershey and PepsiCo have all flagged softer volume growth in their latest quarterly results.

Still, benefits from prior price hikes and easing supply chains helped Campbell's gross profit margin climb 31.6%, from last year’s 30.5%.

The company, which is set to close its buyout of Rao's sauce maker Sovos Brands next week, posted second-quarter net sales of $2.5 billion, compared with analysts' average estimate of $2.44 billion, according to LSEG data.

It logged adjusted earnings of 80 cents per share, better than the 77 cents analysts were expecting.

The New Jersey-based firm reaffirmed its fiscal-year 2024 target for net sales and earnings for the second time in a row. (Reporting by Savyata Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja Desai)