Heinz

American food processing company known for its ketchup and condiments

The H. J. Heinz Company is an American-Canadian food processing company headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

H. J. Heinz Company
Company typeDivision
IndustryFood processing
FoundedJanuary 1869; 155 years ago (1869-01) (as Heinz Noble & Company)
Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
August 1871; 152 years ago (1871-08) (as Healthy Inc.)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
FounderHenry J. Heinz
Headquarters
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Area served
Worldwide
ProductsSauces, condiments
ParentKraft Heinz
Websitewww.heinz.com

History change

Heinz was founded by and is named for Henry J. Heinz, who was born in the United States to German immigrants.

Henry J. Heinz began packing food at Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1869.[1] There he founded Heinz Noble & Company with a friend, L. Clarence Noble, and began marketing horseradish.

The company went bankrupt in 1875. The following year Heinz founded another company, F & J Heinz, with his brother John Heinz and a cousin, Frederick Heinz. One of this company's first products was Heinz Tomato Ketchup.

In 1888, Heinz bought out his two partners and reorganized the company as the H. J. Heinz Company.

In 1905, H. J. Heinz was registered, and Heinz became its first president, holding that position for the rest of his life. Under his leadership, the company pioneered processes for sanitary food preparation.[2]

In 1930, Howard Heinz, son of Henry Heinz, helped to fight the downturn of the Great Depression by selling ready-to-serve soups and baby food. They became top sellers.

During World War II, Heinz helped the UK with food shortages. In the postwar years, factories of the company were built in other countries.

In 2001, Heinz bought the pasta sauce, dry bouillon and soup business of Borden Foods.[3]

On February 14, 2013, it was announced that Heinz will be bought by Berkshire Hathaway and 3G Capital for $23 billion. Berkshire Hathaway and 3G would each own half of Heinz, with 3G manage the company. The acquisition was completed in June of that year.[4]

On October 25, 2013, fast-food chain McDonald's announced it would end its 40-year relationship with Heinz, after the former Burger King chief Hees became its CEO.[5]

On March 25, 2015, Kraft Foods Group Inc. announced that it would merge with the H. J. Heinz Company, owned by 3G Capital and Berkshire Hathaway Inc., to form the world's fifth-largest food and beverage company.[6] The companies completed the merger on July 2, 2015.[7]

Products change

The company produces beans, dressings, pastas, sauces, soups.

References change

  1. Reynolds, Francis J., ed. (1921). "Heinz, Henry John" . Collier's New Encyclopedia. New York: P. F. Collier & Son Company.
  2. Petrick, Gabriella M. (2009). "Feeding the Masses: H.J. Heinz and the creation of industrial food". Endeavour. 33 (1). Elsevier Ltd.: 29–34. doi:10.1016/j.endeavour.2008.11.002. PMID 19181382.
  3. "Heinz buys Borden units for $270M - Jun. 6, 2001". Retrieved July 16, 2018.
  4. Holm, Erik (February 14, 2013). "In Heinz, Berkshire to Let Others Run Show". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved February 15, 2013.
  5. Baertlein, Lisa. "Ketchup changeup: McDonald's dropping Heinz after CEO change". Yahoo Finance. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  6. "H.J. Heinz Company And Kraft Foods Group Sign Definitive Merger Agreement To Form The Kraft Heinz Company" (Press release). March 25, 2015. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  7. "The Kraft Heinz Company Announces Successful Completion of the Merger between Kraft Foods Group and H.J. Heinz Holding Corporation" (PDF) (Press release). The Kraft Heinz Company. July 2, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 14, 2015. Retrieved January 23, 2015.