Heinz 57
Heinz 57 is a synecdoche of the historical advertising slogan "57 Varieties" by the H. J. Heinz Company located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. It was developed from the marketing campaign that told consumers about the numerous products available from the Heinz company.
Usage
Henry J. Heinz introduced the marketing slogan "57 pickle Varieties" in 1896. He later claimed he was inspired by an advertisement he saw while riding an elevated train in New York City (a shoe store boasting "21 styles"). The reason for "57" is unclear. Heinz said he chose "5" because it was his lucky number and the number "7" was his wife's lucky number.[1] However, Heinz also said the number "7" was selected specifically because of the "psychological influence of that figure and of its enduring significance to people of all ages".[2] Whatever the reasons, Heinz wanted the company to advertise the greatest number of choices of pickles. In fact by 1892, four years before the slogan was created, the Heinz company was already selling more than 60 products.[3]
The first product to be promoted under the new "57 varieties" slogan was prepared horseradish.[4] By 1940, the term "Heinz 57" had become so synonymous with the company the name was used to market a steak sauce, which had a taste similar to ketchup. Because of this, its advertising campaign in the late 1980s and early 1990s used the slogan "It's like ketchup with a kick".
1934 Cookbook products
- Heinz Oven-Baked Beans – Pork and Tomato Sauce
- Heinz Oven-Baked Beans – Pork no Tomato Sauce
- Heinz Oven-Baked Beans – Tomato Sauce no Pork
- Heinz Oven-Baked Red Kidney Beans
- Heinz Cream of Asparagus Soup
- Heinz Cream of Celery Soup
- Heinz Cream of Mushroom
- Heinz Cream of Green Pea Soup
- Heinz Cream of Oyster
- Heinz Cream of Tomato Soup
- Heinz Bean Soup
- Heinz Beef Broth
- Heinz Clam Chowder
- Heinz Gumbo Creole
- Heinz Mock Turtle Soup
- Heinz Scotch Broth
- Heinz Noodle Soup
- Heinz Pepper Pot Soup
- Heinz Vegetable Soup
- Heinz Consommé
- Heinz Onion Soup
- Heinz Mince Meat
- Heinz Puddings—Date, Fig, and Plum
- Heinz Peanut Butter
- Heinz Cooked Spaghetti
- Heinz Cooked Macaroni
- Heinz Pure Jellies
- Heinz Apple Butter
- Heinz Gherkins—Sweet or Sour
- Heinz Mixed Pickles—Sweet or Sour
- Heinz Chow Chow Pickle
- Heinz Sweet Mustard Pickle
- Heinz Dill Pickles
- Heinz Fresh Cucumber Pickle
- Heinz Strained Foods
- Heinz India Relish
- Heinz Sandwich Spread
- Heinz Pickled Onions—Sweet and Sour
- Heinz Spanish Queen Olives
- Heinz Stuffed Spanish Olives
- Heinz Ripe Olives
- Heinz Pure Spanish Olive Oil
- Heinz Tomato Ketchup
- Heinz Chili Sauce
- Heinz Beefsteak Sauce*
- Heinz Pepper Sauce—Red or Green
- Heinz Worcestershire Sauce
- Heinz Prepared Mustard—Brown or Yellow
- Heinz Evaporated Horseradish
- Heinz Mayonnaise
- Heinz Pure Malt Vinegar
- Heinz Pure Cider Vinegar
- Heinz Distilled White Vinegar
- Heinz Tarragon Vinegar
- Heinz Rice Flakes
- Heinz Breakfast Wheat
- Heinz Tomato Juice[5]
*- Known today as Heinz 57 Sauce.[6]
Bottle design
The relatively high viscosity and thixotropic[7] nature of ketchup can make pouring it from a glass bottle somewhat difficult and unpredictable, and several urban legends surrounding this phenomenon have arisen. According to one popular folk remedy, repeatedly hitting the "57" mark on a glass Heinz ketchup bottle makes the ketchup pour out more quickly and easily. The New York Times suggests this is a matter of intentional design, with Heinz having placed the "57" mark on that particular spot of the bottle as a target for consumers to hit. According to the Heinz website, only 11% of people know this trick.[1]
In popular culture
In bingo in the United Kingdom, a commonly used call for "57" is "Heinz variety".[8]
In draw poker, "Heinz 57" is a variant where 5s and 7s are wild cards.[9]
In UK betting terminology, a 'Heinz' refers to a full-cover bet of doubles and upwards, consisting of six selections. It is known as a Heinz because there are 57 multiples (15 doubles, 20 trebles, 15 fourfolds, 6 fivefolds and 1 sixfold) within the bet.[10]
The Heinz 57 is also a nickname for British Rail Class 57 locomotives.[11]
When Pittsburgh-based Heinz purchased the naming rights of Heinz Field in 2001, they signed a deal to pay the Pittsburgh Steelers $57 million until 2021.[12][13]
Heinz 57 figures in the plot of the novel The Manchurian Candidate when antagonist Mrs. Iselin lights upon a bottle of the product and adopts the number as an easy one for husband Senator John Iselin to remember as the number of Communists he charges with being employed by the State Department. The 1962 film adaptation retains this, with a bottle of Heinz 57 sauce appearing on-screen moments before John Iselin cites the number in a speech.
Former NHL player Steve Heinze requested to wear #57 when he was drafted by the Boston Bruins. However, the Bruins general manager Harry Sinden denied his request, stating that only Ray Bourque (#77) could wear an unorthodox number. Instead, Heinze wore #23 in Boston. He was granted #57 when he joined the Columbus Blue Jackets and he wore it for the remainder of his NHL career.[14]
Jimmy Buffett mentions Heinz 57 in his song "Cheeseburger in Paradise". The third verse goes, "I like mine with lettuce and tomato, Heinz 57 and french fried potatoes. Big kosher pickle and a cold draft beer, Well, good God almighty which way do I steer For my Cheeseburger in paradise..."
References
- Rawsthorn, Alice (12 April 2009). "An Icon, Despite Itself". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
- "57 Varieties, Revealed | The Bleat". Lileks.com. 2010-01-27. Retrieved 2011-10-12.
- "Trivia". Heinz. Retrieved 2011-10-12.
- "Trivia". Retrieved 13 March 2012.
- "Vintage Cookbooks – Heinz 57 Varieties". Advertisingcookbooks.com. Retrieved 2011-10-12.
- "Heinz® 57® Sauce Celebrates 100 Years of Adding Zest and Flavor to Meals". www.businesswire.com. 2011-06-21. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
- Barry, Patrick L.; Dr. Tony Phillips (10 August 2004). "The Great Ketchup Mystery". First Science.com. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
- "Rhyming Calls in Bingo". Express Bingo. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
- "Heinz 57". poker.gamblefaces.com. Retrieved 2014-10-21.
- Vaughan Williams, Leighton; Siegel, Donald S. (2013). The Oxford Handbook of the Economics of Gambling. Oxford University Press. p. 369. ISBN 978-0199376698. Retrieved 2014-07-25.
- "List of UK railfan jargon – Trains". Train.spottingworld.com. Retrieved 2011-10-12.
- Deckard, Linda (2001-06-25). "Heinz Pours Itself Into $57 Million Naming Rights Deal In Pittsburgh". AllBusiness.com. Archived from the original on January 11, 2009. Retrieved 2008-08-05.
- "Stadium naming rights". Sports Business. ESPN.com. 2008-09-29. Retrieved 2008-08-05.
- "Catching Up With Steve Heinze".
External links
- The story of "57 Varieties"
- "Heinz Fun Facts" Wayback Machine Archive