H. J. Heinz Biography

H. J. Heinz

He began his career in the food and condiments business selling garden vegetables to neighbors, and moved up to selling to grocers. He formed a partnership in 1869 to sell horseradish, but it went bankrupt in 1875. In 1876, he and his brother and cousin organized the H. & J. Heinz Company, specializing in pickles and other condiments. The famous tomato ketchup was also developed that year. In 1888, the company became the H. J. Heinz Company, and incorporated in 1905. When Heinz died in 1919, his son Howard Heinz took over the company, with its 25 factories and thousands of employees.