The Kraft Heinz Company

The Heinz Company was founded in Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania in 1869 by Henry John Heinz, who later became known as the 'Pickle King'. Heinz started the company to market horseradish, sauerkraut, vinegar, and pickles.

In 1876, American entrepreneur Henry John Heinz, along with his brother and cousin, founded The H.J. Heinz Company, a small food business that would later become a major player in the food industry.

In 1888, Heinz bought out his partners and founded the H. J. Heinz Co. which later became a prominent food processing company.

In 1896, Heinz introduced its famous '57 Varieties' slogan, even though the company was actually producing more than 60 products at the time. The number 57 was chosen as a combination of lucky numbers for the founder and his wife.

In 1903, a five-man dairy operation was established, which later grew into an international business.

The H. J. Heinz Co. was officially incorporated in 1905 with Heinz as the first president, a role he maintained for the rest of his life.

In 1909, J.L. Kraft and his brothers officially incorporated their cheese business in Chicago, marking the beginning of the Kraft company's journey.

In 1916, J.L. Kraft and Bros. Company patented a pasteurized processed cheese, revolutionizing the cheese industry by extending the shelf life of cheese products.

By 1922, Kraft had expanded internationally with over 200 products under its banner.

In 1930, National Dairy Products Corporation acquired Kraft after aggressively acquiring numerous small dairy products companies in the U.S.

In 1946, the Heinz company went public, allowing individuals to invest in the company's growth and success. This move marked a significant milestone in the company's history.

The founder of Kraft, J.L. Kraft, passed away in 1953.

In 1960, the first version of the iconic Kraft Foods Inc. wordmark was created.

In 1969, National Dairy Products Corporation changed its name to Kraftco Corp.

In 1988, Kraft merged with Dart Industries, expanding its product range to include FMCG products such as Tupperware and Duracell, beyond the traditional food and snacks.

The Indian affiliate of the Kraft Heinz Company started operations in 1994 under the erstwhile H.J. Heinz Company, providing high-quality food products for various consumption occasions.

In 2000, Philip Morris acquired Nabisco Holdings and integrated the companies into Kraft General Foods.

In 2007, Kraft Foods announced plans to acquire Groupe Danone’s global biscuit business, expanding its presence in the snack industry.

In 2009, Kraft revealed a new logo design after nearly four decades, which was widely criticized by brand experts and media outlets as a mistake.

In 2010, Kraft Foods successfully completed the acquisition of Cadbury PLC, a major milestone in its growth strategy.

In 2011, Heinz was recognized as the top-rated food brand in the YouGov Brand Index. The company's iconic wordmark is featured on various products like sauces, condiments, soups, and baked beans.

In 2012, Kraft Foods proposed the name Mondelez International, Inc. for its global snacks company, reflecting a new branding direction.

In 2013, Berkshire Hathaway and 3G Capital acquired the H.J. Heinz Company for $23 billion, marking a significant milestone in the company's history.

The Kraft Heinz Company announced the successful completion of the merger between Kraft Foods Group and H.J. Heinz Holding Corporation on July 2, 2015.

On July 7, 2015, Kraft Foods Group and Heinz merged to form the world's fifth-largest food and beverage company. The new entity kept the original typeface and colors of each company in its unified logo.

On February 17, 2017, Kraft Heinz made a $143 billion approach to take over the British-Dutch multinational Unilever, a significantly larger competitor.

On October 19, 2017, Kraft Heinz announced the acquisition of Cerebos Pacific, including the Saxa salt, Gregg's, and Bisto brands, from Suntory.

On March 9, 2018, New Zealand's Commerce Commission approved the purchase by Kraft Heinz, with conditions to sell certain brands due to competition concerns.

The sale was completed on January 30, 2019, generating new annual revenue for Kraft Heinz.

On February 21, 2019, Kraft Heinz reported receiving a SEC subpoena and announced a dividend slash from 62.5 cents a share to 40 cents, along with a goodwill impairment charge of $15.4 billion.

On July 2, 2019, Kraft Heinz sold its Canadian natural cheese business, which included brands like Cracker Barrel, to Parmalat for C$1.62 billion.

On September 15, 2020, Kraft Heinz announced its new Strategic Transformation Plan with a new company purpose of 'Let's Make Life Delicious' and a vision to sustainably grow by delighting more consumers globally.

The next day after the Strategic Transformation Plan announcement, Kraft Heinz released its updated 2020 Environmental Social Governance (ESG) report, outlining goals to make product packaging recyclable, reusable, or compostable by 2025 and sustainably source Heinz Ketchup tomatoes by 2025.

On February 11, 2021, Kraft Heinz announced its Q4 2020 and full year results, reporting a 6.2 percent increase in sales and over $26 billion in revenue. Additionally, plans to sell the nuts business, including the Planters brand to Hormel for $3.35 billion, were revealed.

The transaction to sell the nuts business, including the Planters brand to Hormel for $3.35 billion, was completed on June 7, 2021.

On November 10, 2021, the United States Justice Department approved the acquisition by Kraft Heinz with certain divestments.

On November 29, 2021, Kraft Heinz finalized the sale of its cheese business to Lactalis, which included brands like Athenos and Polly-O. The divestiture of Athenos to Emmi Roth and Polly-O to BelGioiso followed soon after.

On January 19, 2022, Kraft Heinz completed its acquisition of an 85% stake in Germany-based Just Spices GmbH, a start-up with a diverse product portfolio including spice blends, salad dressings, and organic offerings.

The data provided on the page is accurate as of December 31, 2022, specifically focusing on salaried employees only.

On September 21, 2023, Kraft Heinz announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Gujarat Government in India to establish its first Global Capability Center (GCC) in Ahmedabad.

On December 1, 2023, a federal jury in Illinois granted $17.8 million to several food companies, including Kraft Heinz, in a lawsuit against Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. over allegations of egg price fixing. Cal-Maine Foods, however, maintains its innocence and denies any wrongdoing in its business practices.