Pour on the Pokemon with Heinz Ketchup; Watch for Limited-Edition Pokemon Heinz Ketchup Bottles This Spring

		H.J. HEINZ POKEMON BOTTLES Heinz is bringing kids' favorite pint-size monsters to the dinner table this spring with limited-edition Pokémon Heinz Ketchup bottles. For two months, beginning in mid-March, supermarkets will carry five million bottles of Heinz Ketchup featuring Charizard, Squirtle, Pikachu, Jigglypuff and Charmander on five separate Heinz Keystone labels. The new Heinz Ketchup bottles are part of a two-month promotion from Heinz and Warner Home Video that offers families a $5 mail-in rebate for a Pokémon: The First Movie video or DVD. (PRNewsFoto)[AG] PITTSBURG, PA USA

Labels Feature Details On `Pokemon: The First Movie' Video or DVD Rebate Offer PITTSBURGH, Feb. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Heinz is bringing kids' favorite pint-size monsters to the dinner table this spring with the introduction of limited-edition Pokemon Heinz Ketchup bottles. For two months, beginning in mid-March, supermarkets will carry five million bottles of Heinz Ketchup (24 oz.) featuring Charizard, Squirtle, Pikachu, Jigglypuff and Charmander on five separate Heinz Keystone labels. (Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000229/PHTUFNS1 ) "There's no doubt that the new Heinz Ketchup labels will become a collector's item among kids," said Deborah Ioli, marketing promotion specialist for Heinz North America. The new Heinz Ketchup bottles are part of a two-month promotion from Heinz and Warner Home Video that offers families a $5 mail-in rebate for a "Pokemon: The First Movie" video or DVD. It's as simple as sending in one actual proof-of-purchase (UPC code) from any Ore-Ida Fried Potatoes or Onion Rings, along with one Heinz Ketchup (24 oz. or larger) UPC code and proof-of-purchase, and cash register receipt from the Pokemon video or DVD. Families will receive a refund check. "Kids love Heinz Ketchup smothered on their Ore-Ida Potatoes," said Ioli. "Now, they'll love it even more with their favorite Pokemon characters on the bottle." Pokemon Fever on the Rise Kids have gone wild for Pokemon in the last five years since the virtual pets were first introduced in the Nintendo Game Boy video game. Since then, there's been no taming of the craze, catapulting Pokemon to a $7 billion industry. Pokemon is the #1-rated children's television show and #1 video and trading card game in the United States. The blockbuster Pokemon movie grossed $87 million worldwide to date. "Pokemon and Heinz are perfect partners because both are irresistible to families with children," said Dan Capone, vice president of marketing and development, Family Entertainment, Warner Home Video. Families can watch for details of the rebate in a March 12 national free standing insert (FSI); video and DVD inserts; and in-store materials in the condiment aisle and freezer case. With operations in 78 international territories -- more than the video division of any other studio -- Warner Home Video commands the largest distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace. WHV's film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertories of Warner Bros., Turner Home Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Home Video and New Line Home Video. With sales of more than $9 billion, H.J. Heinz Company (NYSE: HNZ) is one of the world's leading marketers of branded foods to supermarkets and away-from-home eating establishments. Its 50 companies operate in approximately 200 countries, offering more than 5,700 varieties. Among the company's famous global 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, Skippy, Kibbles 'n Bits, Pounce, Wagwells, Nature's Recipe, Orlando, Olivine and Pudliszki. Information on Heinz is available at http://www.heinz.com.