Heinz Helps Illinois Community to 'Top Itself' with World's

                        Largest Ketchup Packet

PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 27, 2007--The little ketchup packet served at drive-thru windows across the country is about to become a big deal. The H. J. Heinz Company and the town of Collinsville, Ill., home to the world's largest ketchup bottle, have partnered to create the world's largest ketchup packet on Saturday, July 28, 2007.

The estimated 1,500 lb. Heinz Ketchup packet will stand 8 feet tall, 4 feet wide and 9 1/2 inches thick and is expected to make Guinness Book history. This larger-than-life-size packet will contain nearly 130 gallons of Heinz Ketchup and serve as the key ingredient for a community-wide festival and local school fundraiser.

In addition to sponsoring the packet, Heinz will donate 4,000 of its iconic 14-ounce glass ketchup bottles for the event, where attendees can purchase a bottle for $1 and pour their way into history by helping to fill the packet with Heinz Ketchup. All proceeds will benefit the Collinsville Christian Academy, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

"This is a fun way for the world's favorite Ketchup to set a new world record while supporting a good cause at the same time," said Becky Serafini, senior brand manager for Heinz Ketchup Foodservice. "It is our hope that the packet not only helps to raise charitable dollars for the local school, but also represents a piece of history-in-the-making."

The school fund-raising event comes in a timely manner as more than 4,000 square feet of a building attached to the school was destroyed in a morning fire earlier this week. The local mayor along with police, fire fighters, and community residents will participate in the festivities, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Son Life Church and Collinsville Christian Academy.

About Heinz

The H. J. Heinz Company (NYSE:HNZ), offering "Good Food, Every Day(TM)," is one of the world's leading marketers and producers of branded foods in ketchup, condiments, sauces, meals, soups, seafood, snacks, and infant foods. Heinz satisfies hungry consumers in every outlet, from supermarkets to restaurants to convenience stores and kiosks. Heinz is a global family of leading brands, including Heinz(R) Ketchup, sauces, soups, beans, pasta and infant foods (representing nearly one-third of total sales or close to $3 billion), HP(R) and Lea & Perrins(R), Ore-Ida(R) French fries and roasted potatoes, Boston Market(R) and Weight Watchers(R) SmartOnes(R) meals, and Plasmon(R) baby food. Heinz's 50 companies have number-one or number-two brands in 200 countries, showcased by Heinz(R) Ketchup, The World's Favorite Ketchup(TM). Information on Heinz is available at www.heinz.com/news.

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    CONTACT: H. J. Heinz Company
             Tracey Parsons, 412-237-5774
             tracey.parsons@us.hjheinz.com
             or
             For H. J. Heinz Company
             Stephanie Ackerman, 412-224-6004
             stephaniea@jackhorner.com

    SOURCE: H. J. Heinz Company