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Now available for preorder:
The San Francisco Panorama.
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- - - - PITTSBURGH, May 11, 2000 /PRNewswire/ -- Everyone knows the "57 Varieties" slogan -- but you'll need Knowledge in a Nutshell(TM) on Popular Products Heinz Edition to find out that H.J. Heinz Company already had more than 57 different products when the slogan became world famous. Tantalizing Tidbits The "57 Varieties" story and more than 500 other fun facts and amazing tales are available in Knowledge in a Nutshell on Popular Products Heinz Edition, a collaboration by author Charles Reichblum and Heinz retiree John Dryer. Food is something everyone can relate to, and this latest edition of Knowledge in a Nutshell is well stocked with food-related stories and anecdotes, ranging from why we call hot dogs "hot dogs" to how Charlie the Tuna came to be. The pint-sized publication is the third in a series of Knowledge in a Nutshell books from arpr publishing and reveals fascinating facts such as: -- How Heinz Founder Henry J. Heinz literally sank his competition -- Why we call accountants "bean counters" -- How ketchup got its name -- How Morris the 9-Lives Cat was "discovered" -- What honeybees and pickles have in common -- What popular food product was used as a medicine in 400 B.C. -- How vinegar can help you with common household chores Nutshell Nuggets Charles Reichblum is the author of Knowledge in a Nutshell and Knowledge in a Nutshell on Sports. When the success of his book series prompted a third book, Pittsburgh native Reichblum quickly turned his attention to Pittsburgh-based H.J. Heinz Company. "I had always wondered why `ketchup' has so many spellings, and how it got its name," Reichblum said. "Heinz was the perfect place to start my research, and the more I dug, the more I realized Heinz was a natural for our Popular Products series." The company's 130-plus years of history were a gold mine of fascinating stories. For one thing, Founder Henry J. Heinz was a colorful figure who virtually created the modern food-processing industry. "People will be astounded when they find out how Henry J. Heinz helped pass the first Pure Food and Drug Act," Reichblum said. "Teddy Roosevelt and a shot of whiskey played a big part!" Reichblum has the ideal background to write the Nutshell books. As President of Century Features, Inc. news service, which syndicates weekly features to media across the world, Reichblum has earned the nickname "Dr. Knowledge." For more than 50 years he has been collecting interesting facts on a variety of topics, such as baseball's home run that traveled only 6 inches and the man who was present when three U.S. Presidents were assassinated. Hitch Happenings Equally well-suited to collaborate with Reichblum on compiling facts and stories about the famed food company is John Dryer, General Manager of the Heinz Hitch, a replica of one of the very first Heinz delivery wagons from the late 1800s. The fiery-red wagon is drawn by eight magnificent Percheron horses and tours the country as a living history lesson for the company. "Leading the Heinz Hitch team across the country has shown me that people everywhere love Heinz products," Dryer said. "I was honored to work with Chuck to help bring these unique, unknown stories to the public." Dryer began his stint as General Manager of the Hitch after 32 years with Heinz U.S.A., during which he held the position of General Manager of Research and Product Quality Assurance. As such he is among a small group who knows the secret recipe for Heinz Ketchup, one of the few secrets you won't find in Knowledge in a Nutshell on Popular Products Heinz Edition. And, Dryer adds, "Wild horses couldn't drag that recipe out of me, and I'm certainly around enough of them!" For an explanation of how Heinz came to have "57 Varieties," and a host of other fun facts about food and H.J. Heinz Company, you'll want to pick up Knowledge in a Nutshell on Popular Products Heinz Edition at your local bookstore. You can also order the book directly from Knowledge in a Nutshell, Inc. at http://www.KnowledgeinaNutshell.com, or 1-800-NUTSHELL. About H.J. Heinz Company With sales over US$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 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.
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