PITTSBURGH, Feb. 9, 2000 /PRNewswire/ -- The H.J. Heinz Company
(NYSE: HNZ) today announced the creation of a new core category to enable the
company to focus and accelerate the rapid growth of its organic and
nutritional foods businesses around the world. Concurrently, the company has
appointed Sharon W. Wicker (44), vice president -- strategy for Heinz North
America, to be category leader for organic and nutritional foods, with
responsibility for global development of Heinz's natural, organic and
nutraceuticals foods businesses.
Heinz's other core categories include ketchup, condiments and sauces;
away-from-home eating; frozen foods; soups, beans and pasta meals; infant
feeding; tuna; and pet food.
"The organic and nutritional foods phenomenon is a major growth
opportunity for Heinz," said William R. Johnson, Heinz President and CEO.
"The category is growing at a 15-20 percent rate in the U.S. and is projected
to expand in Europe at a 25 percent annual rate over the next four years. Our
goal is to be a world leader in this exciting market by leveraging the global
management and marketing expertise that has made us preeminent in our other
core categories."
Category leader Sharon Wicker observed that, "Heinz significantly expanded
its presence in the organic and nutritional market in the past year, offering
a springboard to dramatic growth in the years to come."
She cited Heinz's recent alliance with the Hain Food Group in North
America and the acquisition of the Linda McCartney brand of frozen vegetarian
foods in the U.K. These new additions complement existing popular
nutraceutical brands in the Heinz portfolio, such as Complan and Glucon-D
nutritional drinks in India and Bi-Aglut and Aproten dietary foods in Italy.
"We can achieve significant sales growth and marketing leverage by nurturing
these businesses as part of a single, global category," Ms. Wicker stated. "A
coordinated global strategy for organic and nutritional foods will enable us
to quicken the growth of our brands in existing markets, expand their success
into new regions, and acquire new brands and capabilities to strengthen our
position in this dynamic market around the world."
Joe Jimenez, president and CEO of Heinz North America, which acquired a
19.5 percent stake in the Hain Food Group last September, called the creation
of this new global category "a major step forward for one of Heinz's most
promising businesses."
"We expect significant top-line growth in our organic and nutritional
category over the next five years," Mr. Jimenez said. "Sharon Wicker is an
experienced marketer with a terrific track record. She will work closely with
Kevin Krail, our general manager -- functional foods, to form a focused and
united global team committed to making this new category a powerful growth
engine for Heinz."
A new arrival at Heinz, Ms. Wicker came to the company in December
following five years with ConAgra's grocery products division, where she last
served as vice president and general manager of the meals strategic business
unit. Prior to that, she spent 10 years at General Mills, where she held a
variety of brand management positions for some of the company's leading cereal
and baked goods brands.
Ms. Wicker joined General Mills following graduation from Michigan State
University's business school in 1984. A native of Ft. Collins, Colorado, Ms.
Wicker earned a Bachelor of Science degree in food science and nutrition at
Colorado State University.
SOURCE H. J. Heinz Company
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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; or INVESTORS:
Jack Runkel, VP-Investor Relations, 412-456-6034, all of Heinz
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