Heinz Tomato Ketchup

Heinz Tomato Ketchup — origin, manufacturing and ownership

Heinz Tomato Ketchup is an iconic American condiment originally developed by Henry J. Heinz. The H. J. Heinz Company traces its roots to 1869, and Heinz first sold tomato ketchup (then called "catsup") in the 1870s. The brand originated in the United States and became widely known for its quality standards and the famous “57” branding.

Heinz ketchup is manufactured in multiple countries. For the U.S. market, production has historically included large plants such as Fremont, Ohio, and Muscatine, Iowa, while global production occurs in regional factories (United Kingdom, Netherlands, Australia, and others). Although there is a common base recipe, minor formulation and packaging variations exist to meet local regulations and consumer preferences.

Ownership: the H. J. Heinz Company became part of The Kraft Heinz Company following a 2015 merger with Kraft Foods Group. Kraft Heinz is an American-headquartered multinational (dual historic ties to Pittsburgh and Chicago) that serves as the ultimate owner of the Heinz brand and manages it through corporate and regional operating units.

Subsidiaries and distribution: Kraft Heinz operates through local subsidiaries and third‑party co-packers/licensees in many markets, so the physical origin of a given bottle of Heinz ketchup depends on the country of purchase and local supply agreements. Packaging, barcodes and minor recipe differences are market-specific.