BEANZ MEANZ HEINZ®
Following the successful launch of flavored Heinz® Mean Beanz® in
Britain, the concept is being introduced in Australia. Just as exciting as the spicy kick is the can itself.
With the help of a U.K. government grant, Heinz developed a can that uses 13% less steel, saving
nearly $750,000 per year. Heinz Vice President of European Technical Services Andy Keatings (right)
is responsible for transferring such entrepreneurial advances to all Heinz business units.
Live Smart 24/7™
A core tenet of “growing what we own” is expanding the reach of our brands. We long ago established
the versatility of the international Heinz® brand across categories, from ketchup and sauces to
soups, spaghetti, beans and baby foods. This year, with trends in health and wellness exploding, we
are taking Weight Watchers® Smart Ones® nutritional meals into more eating occasions
to help consumers Live Smart 24/7™. We are strengthening the range with nine new or
tasteimproved breakfast, lunch and snack varieties, and more desserts than ever. Weight Watchers®
Smart Ones® also is expanding into Canada this year, with six varieties.
GROWTH DOWN UNDER
Heinz used to trail its top competitor in the Australian soup category by 15 points.
But thanks to radical changes, the company closed the gap last year. The improvements included better
taste, evocative graphics and the launch of two entirely new ranges – International and Asian. Displaying
the latest variety is Heinz Australia General Manager of Marketing Suzanne Douglas.
Heinz marketing and product development professionals led by Nelly Yoveva, research manager (middle), listen to what a consumer panel has to say about proposed new Weight Watchers® Smart Ones® varieties.
Ore-Ida®, our largest U.S. retail brand, jumpstarted Heinz’s innovation engine by first focusing on taste, which it did with Ore-Ida® Extra Crispy Fries. It then expanded to microwavable varieties with Ore-Ida® Easy Fries®. The team is now looking beyond fries with a range of Ore-Ida® Roasted Potatoes and Hash Browns.
One of the biggest opportunities for Heinz lies in the fast-growing chilled section of the grocery store. Here again, Ore-Ida® leads the way for Heinz. Last year we piloted chilled mashed and au gratin potatoes and macaroni & cheese in several markets, and are evaluating a wider rollout this year. Cora Towle, (above, left) senior manager of research and development, prepares a test batch of mashed potatoes.
Chemical technician Lindsey Wingard (right) measures the sugar content in ketchup.
Recipes for growth away from home
Ketchup and sauces have been on a roll for many years in our U.S. Foodservice business. Another rising star is soup, led by the Truesoups® and Chef Francisco®, Todd’s® and Quality Chef® brands. Sales of the Truesoups® range have nearly doubled since its acquisition in June 2003, and its varieties are served up at the most rapidly growing fast-casual restaurants in the nation. Truesoups® products are premium heat-and-serve varieties. They emphasize the freshest ingredients and contain no added preservatives, no MSG and no artificial flavors. Heinz’s overall soup business has increased at a three-year compound annual rate of 18 percent. Heinz’s share outpaces our closest two competitors combined.
“To Go” Packaging
Consumers want convenience and Heinz provides it with inventive new “To Go”
packaging for the Bagel Bites® and Delimex® brands. Also featured in the Heinz® Hot
Snacks™ family of brands are the TGI Friday’s® Poppers®, and Nancy’s®
brands. Dan Jackson (above), packaging project manager, tests one of the packs.
The foodservice soup category is on pace to be a half-billion-dollar business within the next five years. What’s more, it meets healthier away-from-home eating trends. Heinz food technologists (above, from left) Charles Streaker, Brenda Dropp, Marjory Renita and Lindsey Murtaugh, prepare test batches around “Kettle Row” at the IQ Center.