Heinz Nature's Goodness Kicks Off New Year and New Brand With
`Fresh Beginnings'
PITTSBURGH, Dec. 11, 2000 /PRNewswire/ -- H.J. Heinz Company (NYSE: HNZ)
-- Being "No. 1" has its rewards for football teams, rock stars -- and the
first babies born in 2001 at 105 hospitals affiliated with the Children's
Miracle Network (CMN).
The first babies born in 2001 at maternity wards in CMN-affiliated
hospitals across the United States will receive a $100 U.S. Savings Bond from
Heinz Nature's Goodness(TM), plus a gift basket of Heinz Nature's Goodness
Baby Food and other valuable items. Additionally, to demonstrate support for
CMN and its hospitals, Heinz Nature's Goodness and the H.J. Heinz Company
Foundation will each make $100 matching contributions to CMN hospitals in
honor of the lucky babies.
This special program will not be the only "fresh beginning" Heinz Nature's
Goodness will be celebrating on New Year's Day. On January 1, 2001 Heinz will
unveil its fifth Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade(R) float, a whimsical
floral masterpiece titled "Fresh Beginnings" that will celebrate Heinz
Nature's Goodness Baby Food by depicting a family and child surrounded by the
best that nature has to offer.
Heinz Baby Food Brand Replaced with Heinz Nature's Goodness
"Heinz has fed four generations of infants, and we are very happy to
continue that tradition into the 21st century with our new Nature's Goodness
brand," said Tracy Quinn, Managing Director -- Heinz Infant Foods Business
Unit. "We are dedicated to helping babies enter this world joyfully."
Heinz Nature's Goodness Baby Food replaces the retiring brand, Heinz Baby
Food, and is healthfully made to ensure fresh-from-the-garden taste and peak
natural nutrition without additives and preservatives. With 70 years of
experience in feeding infants, Heinz is the world's largest producer of baby
food.
Affiliated with CMN since 1979, Heinz has been the longest-running sponsor
of the non-profit organization, raising more than $8 million over the years
with its Heinz Miracle Labels Program. The program allows parents to send in
labels from Heinz Nature's Goodness Baby Food, and for each label received the
company makes a donation to CMN to help save the lives of babies across the
nation. In addition, with each label submitted, parents can earn credits
toward gifts from the personalized Treasure Chest collection, which includes
child-safe gifts such as music, books and creative wearables.
"We are very grateful for the gifts the first babies of 2001 will receive,
and for the Miracle Labels Program," said Susan Roady, CMN's Vice President of
Marketing and Promotion. "The generosity of supporters such as Heinz Nature's
Goodness and the H.J. Heinz Company Foundation helps our participating
hospitals serve 14 million children each year."
Children's Miracle Network is an international non-profit organization
dedicated to helping children by raising funds and awareness for
170 children's hospitals throughout North America.
"Fresh Beginnings" Debuts in Position 57, Where Else?
In honor of Heinz' "57 Varieties" slogan, the company's parade entry will
hold Rose Parade(R) position 57, as have previous Heinz displays.
"Measuring approximately 40-feet long and weighing a mere 12,000 pounds,
this "little baby" is a real pride and joy for Heinz Nature's Goodness," Quinn
said.
The float will maintain Heinz Nature's Goodness' all-natural standards by
including ingredients such as fresh apples, pears and peaches, along with more
traditional float materials such as crushed sweet rice, pampas grass,
strawflowers, snap dragons, chrysanthemums and of course roses.
All-Natural Horsepower from the Heinz Hitch
In keeping with tradition, the Heinz Hitch Percheron horse team will
provide the most dependable source of all-natural horsepower for the Heinz
entry in this year's Rose Parade. The same breed used by company Founder
Henry J. Heinz, these eight, magnificent one-ton Percheron horses will
continue to "pull" for the company as they deliver this heart-warming floral
display along Colorado and Orange Grove Boulevards to the delight of one
million spectators in Pasadena, Calif., and more than 415 million worldwide.
The Heinz Hitch horses are Rose Parade veterans, having pulled Heinz'
previous entries from Heinz Pet Products, StarKist, Weight Watchers and the
Heinz Ketchup brand.
Heinz Nature's Goodness Baby Food is manufactured by Heinz, one of the
world's leading marketers of branded foods to supermarkets and away-from-home
eating establishments. The H.J. Heinz Company's 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, Weight Watchers,
College Inn, Smart Ones, Budget Gourmet and Bagel Bites.
SOURCE Heinz Nature's Goodness
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Related links:
http://www.jackhorner.com
CONTACT:
Kristin Sofran of Jack Horner, 412-473-3407,
or kristins@jackhorner.com, for Heinz Nature's Goodness
NOTE TO EDITORS: This release is also available on
http://www.jackhorner.com. Available for interviews: Ted Hermann, Brand
Manager - Heinz Infant Feeding Debbie Bolding, General Manager -
Communications, Heinz North America Susan Roady, Vice President
of Marketing & Promotion - CMN John Dryer, General Manager and
Driver - Heinz Hitch.
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