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Who Was . . . ? Series
Who Was H. J. Heinz?
Who HQ has way more than 57 reasons why you'll want to read the amazing story of H. J. Heinz--the American entrepreneur who brought tomato ketchup to the masses. Learn how this son of German immigrants from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, turned his small food-packaging company into a booming business known for its fair treatment of workers and pioneering safe food preparation standards. This American success story follows Heinz from his early days as a pickle and vinegar merchant in the 1800s to the name behind the nation's number-one brand of ketchup. The name that's on everyone's lips is now part of the Who Was? series.
112 pages, Library Binding
First published April 2, 2019
29 people are currently reading
219 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 1, 2022
H.J. Heinz, Without him We wouldn't have had Heinz Beanz, Heinz Tomato Sauce, Spaghetti Hoops, Heinz Salad Cream & the Famous Heinz Soups.
September 5, 2022
Inspiring.
May 13, 2019
I have enjoyed reading several biographies in this 'WHOHQ' series published by Penguin Workshop, and this book was no exception.
H. J. Heinz, Henry John Heinz, was born in October, 1944, in Pennsylvania to German immigrants John Heinz and Anna Schmitt. When he was almost nine years old Henry began selling the produce his family did not need from the family garden to their neighbors. At age ten he used a wheelbarrow to carry all of the vegetables he wanted to sell, and at age twelve he needed a horse-drawn cart to transport his vegetables around the village.
His business plan was to offer only the freshest, best quality produce for sale. People learned they could trust the Heinz name when it came to purchasing food for their families.
At age ten he began bottling horseradish in clear glass bottles. He wanted customers to be able to see what they were buying because many other horseradish manufacturers were adding things like leaves and wood pulp to their products. Henry felt this was cheating consumers.
The book chronicles Heinz's progress in the food manufacturing industry. He began with bottling horseradish, sauerkraut, and pickles in his mother's kitchen. As the business expanded he purchased the house next door and used it as his bottling plant. Later Heinz bottled vinegar, ketchup, and eventually many more condiments.
Heinz, Noble & Company was a partnership with two brothers named L. Clarence and E. J. Noble. They did well in the early 1870s, but when a depression hit the nation in 1873 the business went bankrupt.
In 1879 Henry tried to secure financing from banks so he could open a new operation, but because his first business had gone bankrupt the banks would not loan him money. Henry convinced his brother and a cousin, John and Frederick, to help him start a new company named F. & J. Heinz. Henry would be the 'brains' behind the operation, but he was considered another worker.
As the company began making a profit, Henry repaid his portion of the Heinz Noble Company's debt. He regained the trust of financial institutions and the family's company was poised to grow into a major food-manufacturing powerhouse.
Middle-grade readers will enjoy learning that Henry kept his recipes a secret and wrote most of them down in his recipe book in code. 'Only his relatives at the company knew the full recipes.' {page 43}
In 1888 Henry's brother, John, decided to sell his part of the company to Henry. Frederick had already sold a portion of his share back to Henry. The company was renamed H. J. Heinz Company.
In 1900, food manufacturers were adding chemicals to their food products to make them a brighter color or to act as preservatives. This was a dangerous practice as consumers could be harmed by the harsh chemicals. Henry knew salt and vinegar could help preserve foods and that those ingredients were safe for human consumption.
Henry and his son, Howard, and his brother-in-law Sebastian Mueller, wanted to establish food purity laws in the United States. In 1905, Henry sent his son and brother-in-law to meet with President Theodore Roosevelt to discuss food purity regulations. The President was not convinced of the need for these laws.
However, in 1906, Author Upton Sinclair published The Jungle which helped convince Congress and the President of the need for food purity laws. Congress passed the Pure Food and Drug Act in late June, 1906, and President Roosevelt signed the bill into law on June 30, 1906.
In his later years, Henry enjoyed traveling to Europe to collect watches and works of art. As a side note, tomorrow, May 14th, 2019, will be the centennial of his death at age seventy-four from pneumonia.
H. J. Heinz was known as an innovator from the time he was a boy, and the company continued the tradition even after his death. In 1968, Heinz was the first company to offer ketchup in foil 'to-go' packets. In 1983, it was the first company to bottle its ketchup in plastic squeezable bottles. They merged with Kraft in 2015.
Back matter includes a timeline of H. J. Heinz's life, a timeline of the world, and a bibliography.
Highly recommended for fans of U.S. history, famous Americans, biographies, food science, and business administration.
I borrowed this book from the New Non-Fiction Books shelf in the children's collection of the local public library.
This book is completely clean in language and content. :0}
#############
H. J. Heinz, Henry John Heinz, was born in October, 1944, in Pennsylvania to German immigrants John Heinz and Anna Schmitt. When he was almost nine years old Henry began selling the produce his family did not need from the family garden to their neighbors. At age ten he used a wheelbarrow to carry all of the vegetables he wanted to sell, and at age twelve he needed a horse-drawn cart to transport his vegetables around the village.
His business plan was to offer only the freshest, best quality produce for sale. People learned they could trust the Heinz name when it came to purchasing food for their families.
At age ten he began bottling horseradish in clear glass bottles. He wanted customers to be able to see what they were buying because many other horseradish manufacturers were adding things like leaves and wood pulp to their products. Henry felt this was cheating consumers.
The book chronicles Heinz's progress in the food manufacturing industry. He began with bottling horseradish, sauerkraut, and pickles in his mother's kitchen. As the business expanded he purchased the house next door and used it as his bottling plant. Later Heinz bottled vinegar, ketchup, and eventually many more condiments.
Heinz, Noble & Company was a partnership with two brothers named L. Clarence and E. J. Noble. They did well in the early 1870s, but when a depression hit the nation in 1873 the business went bankrupt.
In 1879 Henry tried to secure financing from banks so he could open a new operation, but because his first business had gone bankrupt the banks would not loan him money. Henry convinced his brother and a cousin, John and Frederick, to help him start a new company named F. & J. Heinz. Henry would be the 'brains' behind the operation, but he was considered another worker.
As the company began making a profit, Henry repaid his portion of the Heinz Noble Company's debt. He regained the trust of financial institutions and the family's company was poised to grow into a major food-manufacturing powerhouse.
Middle-grade readers will enjoy learning that Henry kept his recipes a secret and wrote most of them down in his recipe book in code. 'Only his relatives at the company knew the full recipes.' {page 43}
In 1888 Henry's brother, John, decided to sell his part of the company to Henry. Frederick had already sold a portion of his share back to Henry. The company was renamed H. J. Heinz Company.
In 1900, food manufacturers were adding chemicals to their food products to make them a brighter color or to act as preservatives. This was a dangerous practice as consumers could be harmed by the harsh chemicals. Henry knew salt and vinegar could help preserve foods and that those ingredients were safe for human consumption.
Henry and his son, Howard, and his brother-in-law Sebastian Mueller, wanted to establish food purity laws in the United States. In 1905, Henry sent his son and brother-in-law to meet with President Theodore Roosevelt to discuss food purity regulations. The President was not convinced of the need for these laws.
However, in 1906, Author Upton Sinclair published The Jungle which helped convince Congress and the President of the need for food purity laws. Congress passed the Pure Food and Drug Act in late June, 1906, and President Roosevelt signed the bill into law on June 30, 1906.
In his later years, Henry enjoyed traveling to Europe to collect watches and works of art. As a side note, tomorrow, May 14th, 2019, will be the centennial of his death at age seventy-four from pneumonia.
H. J. Heinz was known as an innovator from the time he was a boy, and the company continued the tradition even after his death. In 1968, Heinz was the first company to offer ketchup in foil 'to-go' packets. In 1983, it was the first company to bottle its ketchup in plastic squeezable bottles. They merged with Kraft in 2015.
Back matter includes a timeline of H. J. Heinz's life, a timeline of the world, and a bibliography.
Highly recommended for fans of U.S. history, famous Americans, biographies, food science, and business administration.
I borrowed this book from the New Non-Fiction Books shelf in the children's collection of the local public library.
This book is completely clean in language and content. :0}
#############
July 26, 2019
I knew very little about H.J. Heinz and this was a great introduction to his life and work. He was a dedicated worker, advocated for workers rights, advocated for purity in food manufacturing, worked hard, was a grower, producer, manufacturer, marketer, and a man of faith and mission. He genuinely cared about his workers and the people he produced food for. What an interesting man.
February 8, 2020
A great book about the life of food maker H.J Heinz. He was an excellent man, not using artificial ingredients in his products while making, delicious, fresh products. The Man also treated his workers fairly and always was open minded for advice. Michael, great summary of the life of H.J Heinz. Bravo!!!
February 1, 2021
Henry John Heinz was an active man throughout his entire life. He started his business by selling extra vegetables from his family garden for an income. He would eventually change this into an international business that focuses on quality of their product. This was a fast and pleasant read.
April 19, 2021
4.5 stars
I enjoyed this biography for young readers a great deal. It peeked my interest to find a more in depth account of this man's life. His ethic, his strong marriage, and faith reflected a life that I might want to understand in more detail.
I enjoyed this biography for young readers a great deal. It peeked my interest to find a more in depth account of this man's life. His ethic, his strong marriage, and faith reflected a life that I might want to understand in more detail.
May 1, 2019
I liked it.
May 3, 2019
I liked it.
September 23, 2020
Henry produced Ketchup and pure produce in clear bottles.
November 11, 2021
My three year old picked this book and said “It was super great because it was Heinz and he made ketchup and pickles.”
January 11, 2022
Kinda dry but full of details. Illustrations are well-done drawings.
April 1, 2022
Who knew? The story of the Heinz company is amazing; a testimony to hard work and the desire to make the best food possible. A great read
May 16, 2022
What a great little book. I knew nothing about Henry John Heinz, but I have certainly consumed many of his products. Well illustrated, interesting read.
June 26, 2022
Living in Pittsburgh, I don't know much about HJ Heinz. I enjoyed this brief biography. Apparently he did a lot to promote Sunday school.
February 11, 2023
Even though this is writted for a young person, I learned a lot about the Heinz company and how they became known as the "57 varities" company.
November 19, 2023
Great book with Pittsburgh History and Heinz ketchup
July 22, 2024
He traveled a lot all over the world and he lived a long time. He lived near Pittsburgh.
August 7, 2025
Great book!
March 30, 2023
I didn't know anything about Heinz the person, so this was a fun book to read. He was a great guy and I liked learning about him.
3/29/2023 - I read it again and I still like it.
3/29/2023 - I read it again and I still like it.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews