About Heinz
Heinz is one of the most loved and trusted food brands in the United Kingdom, with a heritage stretching back over 150 years. Founded by Henry J. Heinz in Pittsburgh, USA in 1869, the brand first arrived on British shores in 1886 when Heinz Baked Beans went on sale at the prestigious Fortnum & Mason department store in London. Today, Heinz products are kitchen cupboard staples in millions of British homes, from the iconic Beanz and Tomato Ketchup to soups, sauces, and baby food. British Heritage and Manufacturing Heinz's commitment to the UK runs deep. After opening its first overseas office in London in 1896, the company established its first UK factory in Peckham, south London, in 1905. By 1933, nearly all Heinz products sold in the UK were manufactured domestically. The brand's most significant UK investment came in 1959 with the opening of the Kitt Green factory in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The H. J. Heinz factory at Kitt Green is one of the largest food processing plants in Europe and the largest Heinz facility in the world. Producing over 1.5 million cans of Heinz Beanz daily - that's more than 1.3 billion cans of food annually - the site employs approximately 850 people. The factory receives 50,000 tonnes of navy beans shipped from North America to Liverpool docks each year, holding 36 hours' worth of beans at any time. Investment has continued since Heinz's merger with Kraft in 2015, with £113.6 million invested between 2015 and 2018, including £20 million for modernising filling and packing operations. The factory's significance was recognised by visits from Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother in 1959 and Her Majesty The Queen with the Duke of Edinburgh in 2009 for the facility's 50th anniversary. H.J. Heinz Foods UK Limited holds a Royal Warrant, further cementing its place in British life. Heinz is now owned by The Kraft Heinz Company, formed in 2015 through the merger of Kraft Foods and H.J. Heinz Company, backed by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway and Brazilian private equity firm 3G Capital. In September 2025, Kraft Heinz announced plans to split into two separate companies by 2026 - one focused on condiments, the other on grocery staples. Product Ranges Heinz offers a comprehensive range of food products for British households: **Heinz Beanz** remains Britain's favourite baked bean brand, produced at the Kitt Green factory. The beans are gluten-free, low in fat and sugar, naturally high in protein and fibre, count as one of your 5-a-day, and contain no artificial colours, flavours, or preservatives. Heinz Beanz are suitable for vegans and vegetarians. Variations include Heinz Beanz with Bacon, Five Beans, Beanz with Gluten-Free Sausages, and reduced salt and sugar options. The famous 'Beanz Meanz Heinz' advertising slogan launched in 1967 remains one of the most recognised brand slogans in British advertising history. **Heinz Tomato Ketchup** is the world's most famous ketchup, made with tomatoes (148g per 100g of ketchup), spirit vinegar, sugar, salt, and spice extracts. The UK version contains no artificial colours, flavours, or preservatives and is gluten-free. Heinz offers variations including 50% Less Sugar (using stevia sweetener), Organic, and flavoured ketchups like Chilli and Curry varieties. By 2025, 100% of Heinz ketchup tomatoes are sustainably sourced using pioneering soil health techniques. **Heinz Soup** offers classic British flavours including Cream of Tomato, Cream of Chicken, and vegetable options. The range provides convenient, warming meals in single-serve tins. **Heinz Mayonnaise and Salad Cream** provide creamy condiments for sandwiches and salads. Heinz Salad Cream has been a British favourite since 1914. **Heinz Sauces** extend beyond ketchup to include BBQ sauces, table sauces, and cooking sauces for meal preparation. **Heinz Pasta** offers tinned pasta products including Spaghetti Hoops, often enjoyed by children as quick meals. **Heinz Baby** provides weaning foods for babies from 6+ months, including vegetable jars, fruity pouches with Immunity Support (containing L. Parabascei cultures and Vitamin C), and Biscotti snacks designed for baby-led weaning with shapes that encourage self-feeding. Products are made with organic ingredients and no added sugar, with recyclable packaging introduced as part of Kraft Heinz's commitment to 100% recyclable, reusable, or compostable packaging by 2025. Dietary Information Heinz products cater to various dietary requirements: **Gluten-Free**: Heinz Beanz, most ketchup varieties, and numerous other products are gluten-free. UK-specific gluten-free products include standard Beanz, Beanz with Bacon, Five Beans, Snap Pots, and reduced salt and sugar variants. Heinz Beanz with Gluten-Free Sausages provides a complete gluten-free meal option. **Vegan**: Heinz Beanz are suitable for vegans and vegetarians. Standard Tomato Ketchup is also vegan-friendly, as are many sauce varieties. Always check labels as formulations can vary between products. **No Artificial Additives**: The core Heinz range contains no artificial colours, flavours, or preservatives, appealing to health-conscious consumers. **Reduced Sugar Options**: Heinz offers 50% Less Sugar Ketchup and reduced sugar/salt Beanz variants for those managing sugar intake. Competitive Position In taste tests, Heinz faces strong competition from Branston baked beans, with Which? blind tests showing Branston scoring 73-75% versus Heinz at 72-73%. Critics often note Heinz's sauce is thinner than competitors. However, Heinz remains the clear market leader by sales volume, producing 1.5 million cans of Beanz daily compared to much smaller competitor volumes. Price-wise, Heinz typically costs more than own-brand alternatives and Branston - around £1 for a 415g tin versus cheaper supermarket options. For ketchup, Heinz dominates the UK market with its '57 Varieties' heritage (a slogan chosen in 1896 because 57 was founder Henry Heinz's lucky number, even though the company then made over 60 products). Heinz Tomato Ketchup is the benchmark against which all other ketchups are measured. Summary From Fortnum & Mason in 1886 to kitchen cupboards across Britain, Heinz has become synonymous with quality convenience foods. Whether enjoying Beanz on toast, squeezing ketchup onto chips, or warming up a bowl of tomato soup, British consumers trust Heinz for consistent quality backed by over 150 years of heritage. With UK manufacturing at the world's largest Heinz factory in Wigan, a Royal Warrant, and ongoing investment in sustainable practices, Heinz remains an essential part of the British food landscape.