The H. J. Heinz Company has achieved the highest consumer satisfaction rating of any company in the food manufacturing sector, according to the University of Michigan’s American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). This represents the ninth year that Heinz has been the index’s top-rated food company in the study. The American Customer Satisfaction Index is a national economic indicator of customer evaluations of the quality of products and services available to household consumers in the... ...Read more »

Golden Circle, a 61 year-old Australian company renowned for their canned fruit and vegetables, fruit juice and jam, appears likely to agree to a takeover by Heinz after their Board unanimously recommended the proposal. Golden Circle Limited and H.J. Heinz Company Australia Limited today announced they entered into an Implementation Agreement, whereby it is proposed that Heinz will acquire all of the Golden Circle shares on issue for A$1.65 cash per share, valuing Golden Circle at approximately $288... ...Read more »

The results of TNS Worldpanel’s annual Biggest Brands survey for Marketing magazine show significant growth for brands who offer innovation in the areas of healthy eating and/or ‘affordable’ premium products. Cadbury came out on top of this year’s biggest brands list with sales of up to £590 million. Heinz, Kellogg’s, Walkers Crisps and Warburtons rounded out the top five biggest brands in Britain. Brands such as Walkers (+11%), McVitie’s (+16%), Danone (+11)... ...Read more »

Heinz Ketchup, one of the world’s most iconic brands, has been a prominent fixture on supermarket and convenience store shelving for over a century. The company has consistently updated the packaging of the product since its 1876 launch to appeal to a wider range of consumers but have recently undertaken a process to produce a more optimal assortment of package types and sizes. “We have so many package sizes and types,” explained Barbarita Marbelt, the company’s market research... ...Read more »

H.J. Heinz Co.’s CEO William Johnson has flagged the possibility of an attempt to acquire Campbell Soup Company by advising that the world’s leading soup manufacturer would be a “nice fit” for the company. “Campbell is a great company,” Mr Johnson said upon being questioned by a shareholder at the Heinz AGM about making an offer for Campbell. “Campbell would represent a nice fit with the company. We are always looking for opportunities to expand and grow.” Heinz... ...Read more »

Leading food manufacturer Heinz has announced their Fiscal 2008 sales increased by 12%, as the company searches for growth from the booming health and wellness food sector. H. J. Heinz Company Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer William Johnson advised that the surge in sales past the $10b milestone for the first time was driven by the successful introduction of numerous new products, many of them catering to the fast-growing healthy lifestyles segment. Growth in emerging markets such... ...Read more »

UK PR company Kaizo has established Danone as the number one food brand on the web, according to the Kaizo Advocacy Index - which establishes the impact of online word of mouth. The Index searches links generated by Google and takes into account web, news, groups and blog content. The content is analyzed and assigned as either negative (detractor), neutral (passive) or positive (promoter), with the overall company rating based on subtracting the percentage of promoters from detractors. Due to the... ...Read more »

Heinz Australia is undertaking a precautionary recall of its Mum’s Recipe Chicken and Vegetable Risotto 7-9 Months (170g) and Globetotters Vegetable Napolitana 7-9 Months(170g). The action was taken after a preliminary investigation indicated that some zucchini seed, potentially not suitable for babies of this age, found its way into these products and led to the products not meeting their stringent quality criteria. It is believed that the severe drought in the Murray Darling Basin has affected... ...Read more »

In a move believed to be a world first, 37 of the UK’s leading food and consumer goods companies yesterday announced a major transport collaboration that will significantly reduce the environmental impact of transporting food and groceries in the UK. Initiatives such as sharing vehicles and more efficient warehousing will result in the industry saving 48 million miles of travel by the end of 2008 alone - equivalent to removing 800 lorries from Britain’s roads - and conserving 23 million... ...Read more »

The H. J. Heinz Company has announced it will build a new manufacturing facility in Florence, South Carolina, to support its high-growth frozen meals business in North America. Dave Moran, President and CEO of Heinz North America, said the new factory would enable the company to better serve the needs of customers. “Our frozen meals business is growing rapidly and the new facility is a sign of our commitment to supporting and sustaining this growth,” he said. “The new facility will... ...Read more »