"Heinz first announced Easy Squeeze Ketchup to its retail customers on April 22 in anticipation of a general public announcement later this month," said Casey Keller, Managing Director of Ketchup, Condiments & Sauces at Heinz. "We remain on schedule to introduce Heinz Easy Squeeze this summer and are confident that consumers will be delighted when the thickest, richest and best-tasting ketchup - Heinz - arrives on the shelves in this exciting new package."

Heinz Easy Squeeze is an ergonomically designed bottle that gives consumers greater control over America's best-selling ketchup through its stay-clean cap featuring a patented silicone valve that directs ketchup only where they want it to go.

"Our `No Wait ... No Mess'(TM), easy-dispensing bottle means America's favorite thick and rich ketchup comes out more quickly than ever," added Keller. "Now the only `anticipation' for consumers will be waiting for the new package to hit store shelves."

The new, clear plastic bottle will begin shipping in July in two sizes - 20-ounce and 32-ounce packages.

Keller noted that Heinz Easy Squeeze is the latest in a line of breakthrough ideas by Heinz that has transformed the ketchup, condiments & sauces category. Most recent innovations include Heinz Easy Squirt(R) kids condiment and Heinz Kick'rs(R) flavored ketchups, which arrived on store shelves earlier in May.

"These innovations have driven category growth while increasing Heinz's ketchup sales approximately 7 percent annually over the past two years, giving the brand a record 60 percent market share," said Keller. "It's obvious that innovation is the name of the game in this category and Heinz is the name in innovation."

The company noted that a smaller brand today announced a similar packaging concept in an apparent attempt to play ``ketch-up.''

Keller also stated that more is on the way from Heinz this summer. "Heinz Easy Squeeze is just one of many ideas coming down the pipeline at Heinz," he said. "Look for more excitement in the coming months."

ABOUT HEINZ: With sales approaching US$10 billion and a pantheon of icon brands, H.J. Heinz Company is one of the world's leading marketers of high-quality ketchup, sauces, meals, soups, snacks and infant foods to consumers everywhere, whether in supermarkets, restaurants or on the go. Its 50 companies operate in some 200 countries, with more than 20 power brands, including the Heinz(R) brand with nearly US$3 billion in annual sales. Among the company's famous brands are Heinz(R), StarKist(R), Ore-Ida(R), 9-Lives(R), Wattie's(R), Plasmon(R), Classico(R), Smart Ones(R), Bagel Bites(R), Delimex(R), Poppers(R), John West(R), Petit Navire(R), Kibbles`n Bits(R), Pounce(R), Pup-Peroni(R), Orlando(R), ABC(R), Olivine(R), Jufran(R) and Pudliszki(R). Heinz also uses the famous brands Weight Watchers(R), Boston Market(R), TGIF(R) and Linda McCartney(R) under license. Information on Heinz is available at http://www.heinz.com.

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CONTACT:          Heinz North America
                  Robin W. Teets, 412/237-3562 or 412/237-5465

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