Heinz 57

Heinz 57 is a shortened, popular form of the "57 Varieties" slogan of
Pittsburgh's H. J. Heinz Company. In its early days, the company wanted to advertise the great number of choices of canned and bottled foods it offered for sale. Although the company had more than 60 products in 1892, the number 57 was chosen because the numbers "5" and "7" held special significance to Heinz. The number "5" was Henry John Heinz's lucky number and the number "7" was his wife's lucky number. [http://www.heinz.com/Consumer_faq.aspx#Miscellaneous%20Questions%20about%20H.J.%20Heinz%20Company] The company now has more than 6,000 products. Horse radish was their first product.

Although the company does not often use the slogan on its products today, the number 57 remains pervasive in its corporate culture and is known worldwide (although younger generations are markedly less familiar with it). In the United States and Britain, the number 57 is still printed on the packaging of various Heinz products.

The slogan is printed on Heinz pickle pins that are distributed by the millions.

"Heinz 57" is also the name of one variety of Heinz steak sauce.

Trivia

*There is a "Heinz 57 Center" office building at 357 Sixth Avenue in Downtown Pittsburgh which houses some of the company's offices. Until 1985 it was a formal Gimbels Department Store.

*"Heinz 57" is sometimes used as a slang term for mixed-breed dogs; which are more often called "Mutts" or a "Mutt".

*In the film "The Manchurian Candidate", the character of Johnny Iselin gets the number of "confirmed Communists in the State Department" from the back of a Heinz 57 bottle.

*Joe DiMaggio was going to be offered a sponsorship when his hit streak reached 57 games, but the famous streak ended at 56 games.Fact|date=May 2008

*In the UK a complicated 57 way bet on horse racing is referred to as a "Heinz".Fact|date=May 2008

References

External links

* [http://www.snopes.com/business/hidden/heinz57.asp The story of "57 Varieties"]