Just in Time for Summer ... Heinz One Carb Ketchup Hits Store Shelves; Reduced Calorie, Lower Carbohydrate Ketchup Addresses Changing Consumer Lifestyles

PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 22, 2004--Consumers now have a new way to pour on America's Favorite Ketchup(TM) at their summer barbecues. Heinz One Carb Ketchup - a lower carbohydrate, lower sugar and lower calorie version of its traditional Ketchup - is currently hitting store shelves around the country. As a result, consumers can now enjoy the great taste of Heinz and still be carb-conscious if they choose.

(1)Research suggests more than 30 million Americans are watching their carbs - a number that is expected to double in the next year. Heinz One Carb Ketchup responds to this trend.

“Now with Heinz One Carb Ketchup, carb-counting consumers can enjoy the thick, rich taste of Heinz Ketchup they know and love.”

"As the low carb food trend continues its momentum, research shows consumers are looking for ways to moderate their carbohydrates without sacrificing flavor or taste," said Wendy Beitsinger, Senior Brand Manager for Heinz Ketchup. "Now with Heinz One Carb Ketchup, carb-counting consumers can enjoy the thick, rich taste of Heinz Ketchup they know and love. "

Heinz One Carb Ketchup contains only one gram of total carbohydrates per serving - a 75 percent reduction compared to traditional Heinz Ketchup - giving carb-conscious consumers the option to keep the flavor in their diets even while counting carbs.

In addition to the reduction in carbohydrates, One Carb Ketchup will be welcome news to consumers who are watching their sugar or calorie intake. For example, America's 18 million diabetics -- 6.2 percent of the U.S. population -- can now enjoy the thick, rich taste of Heinz Ketchup with 75 percent less sugar and two-thirds fewer calories than Traditional Heinz Ketchup.

Addressing The Lifestyle Needs of Consumers

(2)According to a recent research study on low-carb dieting conducted by Heinz, more than 50 percent of consumers said they are looking for new options to add flavor to their low-carb diets. Of those, 78 percent said they would use a lower carb ketchup on protein-centric foods such as red meat and chicken. The study also showed that consumers who were moderating their carbs are hungry for flavor solutions that won't compromise their carb-conscious lifestyle.

The new One Carb Ketchup is the latest of Heinz's lifestyle products, joining Heinz No Salt Added Ketchup and Heinz Organic Ketchup. No Salt Added Ketchup -- available across the U.S. -- contains 0 milligrams of salt per serving, while Organic Ketchup is made with vine-ripened, 100% certified organic tomatoes and natural seasonings.

"We are always watching trends in order to meet our consumers' needs," said Beitsinger. "Along with our No Salt Added and Organic varieties, Heinz One Carb Ketchup is designed to ensure that consumers who have special dietary concerns or preferences can still enjoy America's Favorite Ketchup on a variety of host foods."

About Heinz

H.J. Heinz Company is one of the world's leading processors and marketers of high-quality ketchup, condiments, sauces, meals, soups, snacks and infant foods through all retail and foodservice channels. A host of favorite brands, such as Heinz(R) Ketchup, Ore-Ida(R) french fries, Boston Market(R) and Smart Ones(R) meals and Plasmon(R) baby food are the growth drivers in Heinz's two strategic global segments: Ketchup, Condiments & Sauces and Meals & Snacks. Heinz's 50 Companies have number-one or number-two brands in 200 companies, showcased by the Heinz(R) brand, a global consumer icon with $2.5 billion in annual sales. Fourteen brands, each with more than $100 million in annual sales, generate a further $2.6 billion. Information on Heinz is available at www.heinz.com.

(1) Heinz Proprietary Research, 2004

(2) Heinz Proprietary Research, 2004