ALFARO, Spain, May 23, 2000 /PRNewswire/ -- H. J. Heinz Company
(NYSE: HNZ) today officially opened its newest factory, a 344,480-square-foot
tomato processing plant near Alfaro, Spain. "Heinz invested more than
US$22 million to build this modern factory which will play a significant role
in our growing tomato products business throughout the continent," noted Heinz
President and Chief Executive Officer William R. Johnson, who inaugurated the
facility along with King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia.
"Spain is becoming a key production center for Heinz in Europe. We are
especially pleased to have forged a partnership with the local government.
The new plant replaces two older facilities located nearby in the La Rioja
region," Mr. Johnson told the more than 370 factory employees in attendance.
Also attending the ceremonies were government officials, along with Heinz
customers and suppliers.
Located in the rich agricultural region of La Rioja (approximately
50 miles from Pamplona), the factory has a capacity to processes
100,000 tons of locally grown tomatoes annually. Its most popular product is
the market-leading Orlando-brand tomate frito (a cooking sauce widely used in
Spanish cuisine). The plant also makes crushed tomatoes, ketchup and other
condiments and sauces.
Heinz entered the Spanish market in 1987 with the acquisition of Orlando,
Spain's number-one brand of processed tomato products. Since then, the
company's product range has grown and it is one of the nation's most prominent
food companies, making tomato products for Heinz's pan-European affiliates.
Heinz is the world's largest tomato processor, processing about two
million tons each year. Sales for Heinz ketchup and condiments reach
approximately US$2 billion annually.
ABOUT HEINZ: With sales over US$9 billion, H. J. Heinz Company is one of
the world's leading marketers of branded foods to supermarkets and away-from-
home eating establishments. Its 50 companies operate in some 200 countries,
offering more than 57 hundred varieties. Among the company's famous 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, Boston Market, Skippy, Kibbles
'n Bits, Pounce, Wagwells, Nature's Recipe, Orlando, ABC, Olivine and
Pudliszki. Information on Heinz is available at http://www.heinz.com.
SOURCE H. J. Heinz Company
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.heinz.com
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/575757.html or fax,
800-758-5804, ext. 575757
CONTACT:
MEDIA: Debbie Foster, Director-Corp. Comm.,
412-456-5778; or Jack Kennedy, GM-Strategic Comm., 412-456-5923;
INVESTORS: Jack Runkel, VP-Investor Relations, 412-456-6034, all
of Heinz
|
