PITTSBURGH, Sept. 28, 2000 /PRNewswire/ -- H.J. Heinz Company (NYSE: HNZ) today announced that Mark M. Leckie (47) has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of H.J. Heinz Company of Canada Ltd, effective October 2, 2000. Mr. Leckie will succeed Brian Falck, who led Heinz's Canadian subsidiary since 1998.

Mr. Leckie's most recent position was President, U.S. Grocery Division, at Campbell Soup Company, which he held until June 1999. His 23 years of leadership experience in the food industry include senior management roles at Campbell's, Kraft Foods and Nabisco Brands. Mr. Leckie's Canadian experience includes a senior management assignment at Kraft Foods in Canada.

"Mark Leckie has a terrific brand building track record in the consumer- packaged goods industry," said Joe Jimenez, President and CEO of Heinz North America. "We are fortunate to have someone with Mark's experience and business success as part of the Heinz North America team."

ABOUT HEINZ: With sales over US$9 billion, H. J. Heinz Company is one of the world's leading marketers of branded foods to supermarkets and away-from- home eating establishments. Its 50 companies operate in some 200 countries, offering more than 57 hundred varieties. Among the company's famous brands are Heinz, StarKist, Ore-Ida, 9-Lives, Weight Watchers, Wattie's, Plasmon, Farley's, Smart Ones, The Budget Gourmet, Linda McCartney, San Marco, Go Ahead!, Bagel Bites, John West, Petit Navire, Boston Market, Skippy, Kibbles 'n Bits, Pounce, Wagwells, Orlando, ABC, Olivine and Pudliszki. Information on Heinz is available at http://www.heinz.com. SOURCE H. J. Heinz Company

CONTACT: MEDIA: Ted Smyth, SVP-Corp. & Govt. Affairs, 412-456-5780; Debbie Foster, Director-Corp. Comm., 412-456-5778; or Jack Kennedy, GM- Strategic Comm., 412-456-5923, of Heinz WHQ; or Anna Relyea, Comm. Mgr., 416-226-7587, of Heinz Canada; or INVESTORS: Jack Runkel, VP-Investor Relations, 412-456-6034, of Heinz WHQ/