Wattie's Packaged Foods

Wattie's is one of New Zealand's most iconic home-grown brands, founded by Sir James Wattie in 1934 in Hastings. Originally established to prevent fruit from going to waste during the Great Depression, the company quickly became a staple of the New Zealand pantry, producing a wide range of canned fruits, vegetables, jams, and its legendary tomato sauce. To this day, the fertile region of Hawke's Bay remains the heart of its manufacturing operations, processing high volumes of local produce.

Over the decades, the ownership of the brand has changed as it moved from a family-run enterprise to a global asset. In 1992, the company was acquired by the American multinational H.J. Heinz Company. Following the major corporate merger in 2015, the brand became part of the Kraft Heinz portfolio. While the brand maintains a strong New Zealand identity and continues to manufacture many of its products domestically, it operates as part of a massive international food and beverage network.

Today, Wattie's continues to dominate the New Zealand market while exporting its products to various international locations. It remains the lead brand for Kraft Heinz in the Oceania region, blending its historical roots in New Zealand agriculture with the global distribution power and R&D capabilities of its American parent company.