Heinz 57

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Henry J. Heinz introduced the marketing slogan "57 pickle Varieties" in 1896. He later claimed he was inspired by an advertisement he saw while riding an elevated train in New York City (a shoe store boasting "21 styles"). The reason for "57" is unclear. Heinz said he chose "5" because it was his lucky number and the number "7" was his wife's lucky number.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/fashion/13iht-design13.html?_r=1|title=An Icon, Despite Itself |last=Rawsthorn|first=Alice|date=12 April 2009|work=New York Times|access-date=2009-06-09}} However, Heinz also said the number "7" was selected specifically because of the "psychological influence of that figure and of its enduring significance to people of all ages".{{cite web |url=http://lileks.com/bleat/?p=5335 |title=57 Varieties, Revealed | The Bleat |publisher=Lileks.com |date=2010-01-27 |access-date=2011-10-12 |archive-date=2011-09-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110918014732/http://lileks.com/bleat/?p=5335 |url-status=dead }} Whatever the reasons, Heinz wanted the company to advertise the greatest number of choices of pickles. In fact by 1892, four years before the slogan was created, the Heinz company was already selling more than 60 products.{{cite web |url=http://www.heinz.com/our-company/press-room/trivia.aspx |title=Trivia |publisher=Heinz |access-date=2011-10-12 |archive-date=2018-03-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324001822/http://www.heinz.com/our-company/press-room/trivia.aspx |url-status=dead }}

The first product to be promoted under the new "57 varieties" slogan was prepared horseradish.{{cite web|title=Trivia|url=http://www.heinz.com/our-company/press-room/trivia.aspx|access-date=13 March 2012|archive-date=24 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324001822/http://www.heinz.com/our-company/press-room/trivia.aspx|url-status=dead}} By 1940, the term "Heinz 57" had become so synonymous with the company the name was used to market a steak sauce. Prior to that Heinz sold a “Beefsteak Sauce“ of unknown composition. {{cite web|url=http://www.advertisingcookbooks.com/home/heinz57.htm |title=Heinz 1934 Cookbook |publisher=Advertisingcookbooks.com |access-date=2011-10-12}}

Heinz 57 Sauce has what amounts to a ketchup base, fortified with malt vinegar and seasoned with mustard, raisin, apple, garlic, onion, and other flavors. [https://www.heinz.com/products/00013000002646-57-sauce Heinz 57 Sauce, Heinz.com]

Its ingredient list includes tomato purée (water, tomato paste), high fructose corn syrup, distilled white vinegar, malt vinegar (contains barley), salt, less than 2% of modified food starch, raisin juice concentrate, mustard flour, soybean oil, turmeric, spices, apple purée, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate (preservatives), caramel color, garlic powder, onion powder, and natural flavors.

In bingo in the United Kingdom, a commonly used call for "57" is "Heinz variety".{{cite web|url=http://www.express-bingo.co.uk/acatalog/rhyming-calls.html|title=Rhyming Calls in Bingo|publisher=Express Bingo|access-date=26 April 2012}}

In draw poker, "Heinz 57" is a variant where 5s and 7s are wild cards.{{cite web|url=http://poker.gamblefaces.com/rules-and-games/draw-poker-games/heinz-57/|title=Heinz 57|publisher=poker.gamblefaces.com|access-date=2014-10-21}}

A mongrel dog with more than two distinct breeds in its bloodline may be referred to as a "Heinz 57" {{cite web|url=https://thedogman.net/the-mystery-of-heinz-57-mutts-unraveling-the-mix/ |title=The Mystery of 'Heinz 57' Mutts: Unraveling the Mix |date=2 May 2023 }}

In UK betting terminology, a 'Heinz' refers to a full-cover bet of doubles and upwards, consisting of six selections. It is known as a Heinz because there are 57 multiples (15 doubles, 20 trebles, 15 fourfolds, 6 fivefolds and 1 sixfold) within the bet.{{cite book |first1=Leighton |last1=Vaughan Williams |last2=Siegel |first2=Donald S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_a1PAQAAQBAJ |title=The Oxford Handbook of the Economics of Gambling |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2013 |page=369 |isbn=978-0199376698 |access-date=2014-07-25 }}

The Heinz 57 is also a nickname for British Rail Class 57 locomotives.{{cite web|url=http://train.spottingworld.com/List_of_UK_railfan_jargon#H |title=List of UK railfan jargon – Trains |publisher=Train.spottingworld.com |access-date=2011-10-12}}

When Pittsburgh-based Heinz purchased the naming rights of Heinz Field in 2001, they signed a deal to pay the Pittsburgh Steelers $57 million until 2021.{{cite news|first=Linda |last=Deckard |title=Heinz Pours Itself Into $57 Million Naming Rights Deal In Pittsburgh |url=http://www.allbusiness.com/services/amusement-recreation-services/4568098-1.html |publisher=AllBusiness.com |date=2001-06-25 |access-date=2008-08-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090111123145/http://www.allbusiness.com/services/amusement-recreation-services/4568098-1.html |archive-date=January 11, 2009 }}{{cite web |url= https://www.espn.com/sportsbusiness/s/stadiumnames.html|title= Stadium naming rights|access-date=2008-08-05 |work= Sports Business|publisher= ESPN.com|date= 2008-09-29}}

Former NHL player Steve Heinze requested to wear #57 when he was drafted by the Boston Bruins. However, the Bruins general manager Harry Sinden denied his request, stating that only captain Ray Bourque (#77) could wear an unorthodox number. Instead, Heinze wore #23 in Boston. He was granted #57 when he joined the Columbus Blue Jackets and he wore it for the remainder of his NHL career.{{Cite web|title=Catching Up With Steve Heinze|url=http://lakingsedition.com/catching-steve-heinze/|access-date=2020-11-03|archive-date=2019-12-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215065416/http://lakingsedition.com/catching-steve-heinze/|url-status=dead}}

Footnotes

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References

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{{wiktionary|Heinz 57}}

• [http://www.snopes.com/business/hidden/heinz57.asp The story of "57 Varieties"]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20180728113646/http://www.kraftcanada.com/brands/heinz-ketchup "Heinz Fun Facts"] Wayback Machine Archive

{{The Kraft Heinz Company}}

{{Heinz}}

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Category:Brand name condiments

Category:Heinz

Category:American advertising slogans

Category:Metaphors referring to food and drink

Category:Steak sauces

Category:Products introduced in 1896

Category:1890s neologisms