Heinz, Henry John (1844–1919)

US industrialist. Heinz, born in Pittsburgh, entered his family's brick business but became interested in the possibilities of wholesale food marketing, founding a firm for that purpose 1876. The firm, renamed the H J Heinz Co. 1888, specialized in the manufacture of prepared foods and condiments. Heinz popularized the use of ketchup and made famous his company's slogan ‘57 Varieties’.

As president, Heinz oversaw every phase of production, from farming to advertising. Unlike some of his competitors, he was a strong supporter of the 1906 US Pure Food and Drug Act.