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For those of you who might not know, today is the birthday of the inventor of many household brand products that we commonly find in our kitchens. Although this person has passed many years ago, H.J.Heinz products are still found on store shelves and in homes all across the country.

Wondering whose birthday it is? None other than H.J.Heinz!

He started out life on October 11, 1884 and is one of five surviving children (out of eight) to parents that were originally from Germany. As a young boy, he was bitten by the entrepreneurial bug after spending many hours helping the family in the fields and kitchen. As he grew, so did his love of the land and he worked his way up from a small plot of land to several acres in which he planted fresh vegetables to harvest for his family as well as his special sauces.

As a youngster, he used to make his mom’s horseradish and market it along with the vegetables to the townspeople and when he got older, he went into business with one of his friends. Sadly, this first venture did not turn out very well. They went bankrupt and H.J. Heinz was not ready to focus on another line of work. His love for food, the land, and producing a product that stands above the rest was in the forefront of his mind.

After some more trials and tribulations, he went into a business deal with his brother and another friend in 1876 and he eventually bought them out in 1889. It was back in 1889, the H.J.Heinz company was incorporated.

Clever Marketing Ploy Results in the Creation of the 57 Varieties Logo

Old Henry (Harry as he was known to his family) worked hard at perfecting his products and eventually opened 22 manufacturing plants that produced his famous 57 varieties. There were in fact, much more than 57 varieties of his products but back then it was a clever marketing ploy. It was a result of a combination of his and his wife’s two favorite numbers.

As for myself, I personally can relate to that famous ad jingle, “There are no other kinds, once you tasted Heinz”.

He was a hard working entrepreneur who never really forgot his long hours and the never ending task of working the field. He also recognized the need to reward his employees and his did this very well. H.J.Heinz rewarded his workers with not only a salary, but benefits as well. Some of these benefits included; free medical care, gardens, libraries, gyms, concerts, lectures, and a safe and sanitary place to work. What a pioneer!

Although I have not personally tried all of the products put out by the H.J.Heinz Company, I can attest to the fact that their brand of ketchup is the only one I use. I would rather have plain food than to top a french fry, a steak, or even a baked potato with anything else than Heinz ketchup!

Thanks for your entrepreneurial spirit that carried you forward and into creating household products that are used to this very day.

And Happy Birthday…

Would love to know what Heinz product is your favorite?