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Now available for preorder:
The San Francisco Panorama.
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M O S T C E N S O R E D - - - - - - - - PITTSBURGH, Pa., and BEIJING, Dec. 10, 1999 /PRNewswire/ -- H. J. Heinz Company (NYSE: HNZ) and its new Chinese affiliate, Heinz-Cosco Tianjin Food Co. Ltd., today announced the opening of an ultra-modern food processing facility to produce its first line of reciped baby foods in jars. With this initiative, Heinz has significantly expanded the presence of one of its key categories in the world's most populous market. "With more than 20 million babies born in China each year, Heinz-Cosco anticipates tremendous growth potential for its new line of Heinz branded jarred baby foods," said William R. Johnson, Heinz president and chief executive officer. "We are already the market leader in infant cereal through our other joint venture in China, Heinz-UFE, Ltd., based in Guangzhou." This latest addition to Heinz's worldwide operations strengthens its position in Asia, the world's fastest-growing region. Heinz sells more than US$1 billion in baby foods around the world and is projecting future sales growth of 3-5% per year. "We are one of the world's top three marketers of infant food," Mr. Johnson said. "Heinz markets baby foods with number-one brands in Italy, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Venezuela and the U.K. We enjoy a strong business in the U.S. and are expanding our presence in major emerging markets, including India, China, Russia, Hungary and the Czech Republic, where extensive research and innovation allow us to tailor highly nutritious and convenient foods to local tastes and customs." Heinz-Cosco now offers Chinese parents 15 varieties of vegetables, fruits and fruit juices for babies. Heinz conducted extensive research on infant feeding practices in China before launching the new foods. Hundreds of mothers and their babies in Beijing and other cities throughout China participated in research and later evaluated potential ingredients and product recipes before the company made its final selections. "Parents want their children to grow up liking the foods and flavors they enjoy themselves," explained Dr. David Yeung, general manager - global nutrition services for Heinz. "Therefore, the choices they make for their infants are strongly influenced by their own eating traditions." The new Heinz facility, which covers 50,000 square meters, is located near Qingdao (Tsingstao), a port city 400 miles north of Shanghai. With ingredients of fresh vegetables and fruit, it prepares reciped baby foods under world-class conditions of quality assurance and purity. The facility was completed in September 1999 by Heinz; its joint venture partners; other investors; and Alberto Bertuzzi SpA, a leading Italian equipment manufacturer. Heinz-Cosco Tianjin Food Co. Ltd. is a joint venture between Heinz and two enterprises in China, Tianjin Ocean Shipping Co. and Qingdao Taifa Group Company Ltd. 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, Skippy, Kibbles 'n Bits, Pounce, Wagwells, Nature's Recipe, Orlando, Olivine and Pudliszki. Information on Heinz is available at http://www.heinz.com. SOURCE H. J. Heinz Company
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