Heinz Food Import Export

Heinz History

The story of how Heinz came to be one of the world's best loved brands began over 140 years ago. Take a trip back with us, and find out how Henry J Heinz ensured his name would become associated with quality, variety and good taste by food lovers everywhere.

1869

In the beginning

Two young American businessmen, Henry J Heinz and L Clarence Noble, launch Heinz & Noble. Their first product is Henry's 'pure and superior' grated horseradish, bottled in clear glass to show its purity. The horseradish is grown on a garden patch given to Henry by his parents.

1876

The world's first taste of ketchup

Henry sets up business with two of his relations, launching F & J Heinz Company, with Henry as manager. In the US, they launch Heinz Tomato Ketchup followed by a launch in the UK in 1886.

1886

'I think Mr Heinz, we will take the lot'

Henry sells his first products  'seven varieties of our finest and newest goods' to London's famous Fortnum & Mason food store.

1896

An historic train journey

Riding the New York railway he saw a poster for a shoe company advertising its 21 styles of shoe. He is taken with the ad and totting up the number of products that his company produced, settles on 57 - although there were more, even then! On that journey Heinz 57 Varieties was born.

1910

Cream of the crop

Heinz Cream of Tomato Soup was imported into the UK.

1920s

UK production starts

Heinz is still exporting Baked Beans, Spaghetti and Tomato Ketchup to the UK from America and Canada. When production expands to the UK, 10,000 tonnes are produced here in the first year.

1930s

You gotta talk the talk

Heinz salesmen are expected to be at least 6ft tall, impeccably dressed and particularly eloquent at promoting Heinz products. Their equipment  including chrome vacuum flasks, pickle forks and olive spears  weighs about 30lbs!

1931

Hard times, good food

Howard Heinz, Henry's son, fights the big Depression by adding ready-to-serve soups and baby food to the Heinz range. Feeding families looking for value, taste and quality, they become top sellers

1940s

What, no ketchup?

Because of the war, ingredients are in short supply. Heinz Tomato Ketchup does not appear on shelves in the UK from 1939 until 1948. What on earth did they do without it? Eat more Heinz Salad Cream, that's what.

1944

Beans for victory!

Because of its major contribution to wartime food production, our Harlesden factory is bombed at least twice. Production carries on regardless as Heinz is so vital to maintaining food resources.

1951

A right Royal result

The Royal Warrant is granted, and in 1954 granted again as Purveyors of Heinz Products to HM Queen Elizabeth II.

1955

Heinz goes on air for the first time

'Heinz 57' varieties are advertised on the new ITV channel.  Colour posters were also produced.  The jingle went: 'Heinz 57, Heinz 57. You've a family to feed. Heinz have everything you need. Ready when you are, yes indeed. That's Heinz 57!

1959

Wigan goes bean bonkers

Heinz opens a Beans factory in Wigan on 21 May 1959. It uses 1,000 tonnes of dry beans every week. That's a lot of beans.

1961

The biggest promotion in the UK ever!

Heinz give-away 57 Mini-Minors in a soup competition. From then on Heinz can't stop; we give away 57 caravans, 57 holidays and much, much more.

1967

The most famous slogan of them all is born

Remember it? A million housewives everyday pick up a tin of beans and say: 'Beanz Meanz Heinz.'

1986

Telegram from the Queen?

Heinz commemorates 100 years of providing British families with quality convenience foods.

1987

Ketchup gets the easy, squeezy treatment

The plastic Heinz Tomato Ketchup bottle is launched. Now it is easier than ever to enjoy the world's favourite tomato ketchup with your favourite dishes.

1990s

The bean goes east

Heinz expands distribution to Russia and China. In total, we now export Heinz Beanz to 60 countries.

1998

Twelve of the best

Heinz Beanz is selected as one of twelve brands that people think best represent the final ten years of the Millennium.

1999

Into the top four

We're now the world's fourth biggest food and drink brand behind Coke, McDonald's and Nescafé.

2000

Time to go organic

Heinz launches organic ranges for our main brands: Organic Tomato Ketchup and Organic Heinz Beanz. Soon after, we introduce Organic Cream of Tomato Soup.

2003

Everything turned upside down

Heinz Tomato Ketchup is turned on its head  and the Heinz Top Down Tomato Ketchup bottle is born. For the traditionalists, the distinctive glass bottles remain on sale too.

 

2004

Less salt for beans lovers

Heinz introduces Reduced Sugar and Salt Baked Beanz while continuing to drive down added salt in standard beans which first started in 1986.

 

2005

Mean Beanz for a new millennium

For the first time in 103 years, Heinz launches a new Heinz Beanz range: Mean Beanz, that come in world varieties  Mexican, Sweet Chilli and Smokey BBQ.

 

 

2005

HP Sauce joins the Heinz family

HP™ Sauces and Lea & Perrins™ Worcestershire Sauce joins a roster of 10 category-leading consumer brands at Heinz including Heinz Tomato Ketchup, Heinz Beanz and Heinz Cream of Tomato Sauce

 

2007

Busy lives have never bean so easy

Heinz launches a new format to their iconic Heinz Beanz and Spaghetti Hoops brands with Snap Pots, a personalised portion that can be popped into the microwave without the need to hover by the hob, worry about waste or adding to the pile of unwashed pots and pans.

 

2008

Global Sustainability goals launched

In May, Bill Johnson, our Chairman, President and CEO, unveiled nine global sustainability goals including the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2015.