Background and Product Lines H.J. Heinz Company manufactures and markets a large line of processed food products throughout the world. Established in 1869, Heinz went from selling on the local market, to selling on the national market, to selling on the global market. Heinz is known throughout the world for it’s consistent quality, old-fashioned values and great taste. When Henry Heinz was only twenty-five years old, he founded H.J. Heinz Company. Run by family members for decades to follow, Heinz expanded beyond its local start up point and ventured into the global market. Heinz’s first overseas endeavor began in 1905 when it began selling its products in London. From then on, worldwide expansion grew. Heinz acquired companies in various countries such as Italy, Portugal, Mexico, South Africa, Russia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, South Korea, China, India, Egypt, Botswana and Zimbabwe, not to mention the companies that it has acquired in the United States. Heinz in represented in 200 countries across the globe and as fast as their locations have numbered, so have their product lines.
The leading products and major source of cash flow is in the sale of the regular, garden-variety ketchup, condiments, and sauces. Other product lines include convenience meals, frozen foods, pet foods, infant foods, and organic and nutritional foods. Because each country has a different style, culture and taste, the different product lines are sold throughout the world on different levels. (See Appendix A: Locations and Product Lines) Today, H.J. Heinz Company stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol HNZ and currently employs 45,800 people. Heinz is in the food processing industry and is a part of the S&P 500.