The real reason behind ‘57 varieties’ Heinz label revealed (2024)

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Published July 26, 2023, 9:56 a.m. ET

A hidden meaning in the label of one well-known ketchup brand has surprised social media, with many offering their idea behind the number.

Heinz sauce bottles contain a “57 varieties” label on the bottle, with many speculating what it could mean.

Some guessed it was because the company was founded in a year ending with 57, others speculated it was how many tomatoes were in each bottle and others joked it had to do with the rising cost of living.

One person guessed that the placement had to do with it being the best place to squeeze the sauce out of the bottle.

But, now, the meaning behind it has been revealed, with a spokesman for the company revealing just why the number was chosen.

“The ‘57 varieties’ label on the neck of Heinz Tomato Ketchup was surprisingly selected at random by founder Henry Heinz,” Andrea Payne, head of marketing and taste elevation for Heinz ANZ, told news.com.au.

“Although the number itself technically has no real purpose, and even back then there were more than 57 varieties, the number has stuck around for over 100 years of Heinz branding, making it synonymous with the Heinz brand.

“Brands evolve so much over time – it’s nice to see small nods to the original packaging and story.”

The need for a number logo came after Heinz spotted a shoe company advertising 21 styles of shoes.

On the Heinz UK website it states that five was Heinz’s lucky number and seven was his wife’s lucky number.

He also believed that seven was a significant number for people of all ages.

At this point in time, the company already had more that 60 products to its range.

The idea about the placement of the number being crucial to accessing the product wasn’t too far off the truth either.

A spokesperson from the company responsible for everything from sauce, to soup and baked beans toldTODAY food: “The sweet spot to tap on the Heinz bottle is the 57 on the neck.”

“All you need to do is apply a firm tap where the bottle narrows, and the ketchup will come out easier.”

The real reason behind ‘57 varieties’ Heinz label revealed (2024)

FAQs

The real reason behind ‘57 varieties’ Heinz label revealed? ›

Heinz's lucky number. According to the company's website, in 1896, the founder was inspired by an advertisem*nt he saw for “21 styles of shoes.” He considered 57 to be magical and lucky, so he came up with the slogan “57 Varieties” despite the fact the company offered more than 60 products at the time.

Why does Heinz ketchup say 57 varieties? ›

The need for a number logo came after Heinz spotted a shoe company advertising 21 styles of shoes. On the Heinz UK website it states that five was Heinz's lucky number and seven was his wife's lucky number.

What is the 57 varieties label Heinz? ›

Heinz 57 is a synecdoche of the historical advertising slogan "57 Varieties" by the H. J. Heinz Company located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. It was developed from the marketing campaign that told consumers about the numerous products available from the Heinz company.

What is the Heinz 57 expression? ›

Here's something NOT everyone knows: The famous 57, in “Heinz 57”, doesn't mean anything. It's not a year, or several ingredients or “varieties.” Andrea Payne, the head of marketing at Heinz, says, “The '57 varieties' label was surprisingly selected at random by founder Henry Heinz in 1896.

What did HJ Heinz develop his company slogan 57 varieties based upon? ›

Since 1896, the company used its "57 Varieties" slogan; it was inspired by a sign advertising 21 styles of shoes, and Henry Heinz chose the number 57 even though the company manufactured more than 60 products at the time, because "5" was his lucky number and "7" was his wife's.

What are the 57 ingredients in Heinz ketchup? ›

TOMATO PUREE (WATER, TOMATO PASTE), HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, DISTILLED WHITE VINEGAR, MALT VINEGAR (CONTAINS BARLEY), SALT, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, RAISIN JUICE CONCENTRATE, MUSTARD FLOUR, SOYBEAN OIL, TURMERIC, SPICES, APPLE PUREE, SODIUM BENZOATE AND POTASSIUM SORBATE (PRESERVATIVES), CARAMEL ...

Where did the term Heinz 57 come from for dogs? ›

Heinz 57, Heinz, or Heinz Hound is often used for dogs of uncertain ancestry, in a playful reference to the "57 Varieties" slogan of the H. J. Heinz Company. In some countries, such as Australia, bitsa (or bitzer) is sometimes used, meaning "bits o' this, bits o' that".

What is the Heinz incident? ›

The Heinz Incident. In Europe a woman was near death from a terminal disease. There was, however, one drug which doctors thought might save her. It was a form of radium that a pharmacist in the same town had recently discovered.

When was Heinz 57 sauce invented? ›

The product now known as Heinz 57 Sauce was first introduced as Heinz Beefsteak Sauce in 1911 and was sold for just 25 cents. At a time when outdoor grilling was rising in popularity, Heinz wanted to produce a sauce unlike any other available at the time.

What is a Heinz 57 bet? ›

A Heinz consists of 57 bets on six selections i.e. 15 doubles, 20 trebles, 15 fourfold accumulators, six fivefold accumulators, and one sixfold accumulator. Two or more selections must be successful to have a return.

Why is Heinz so successful? ›

With a unique flair for marketing and a high standard of production, H. J. Heinz changed Americans' attitudes towards processed food products. From exclusively selling horseradish in 1869 to offering over 60 varieties of products, Heinz built an empire and became a household name.

What was the inspiration for Heinz ketchup? ›

Legend has it that Henry John Heinz invented ketchup by adapting a Chinese recipe for so-called Cat Sup, a thick sauce made from tomatoes, special seasoning and starch.

Why is it called Heinz? ›

Heinz Company was founded in 1869 by Henry John Heinz (1844-1919). The company began as a producer of horseradish in Sharpsburg, Pa. under the name of Anchor Pickle and Vinegar Works, and later Heinz & Noble.

What do the numbers on Heinz ketchup packets mean? ›

It seemed as if this pondering question has been baffling people for a number of years, as Heinz offered an explanation back in 2015 when they were asked on X, formerly known as Twitter. "The numbers on the sachets relate to the filling line which the sachet was filled on," the official Heinz account explained.

What is the sweet spot on Heinz ketchup 57? ›

'To release ketchup faster from a glass bottle, here is a little secret from Heinz,' a spokesperson explained. 'The sweet spot to tap on the Heinz bottle is the 57 on the neck. All you need to do is apply a firm tap where the bottle narrows, and the ketchup will come out easier.

Why is there a pickle on the Heinz ketchup bottle? ›

No pickles in ketchup

Founder H.J. Heinz used a "pickle pin" to attract attention to his booth at the World's Fair in Chicago in 1893. The pins were popular, and the branding stuck. The company still gets as many as 15,000 pickle pin requests a year through its Web site and a consumer hot line.

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