Heinz Seeks to Disavow Kerry Connection

AP | 3/29/04 | Charles Sheehan

[The South Texan]

Heinz Seeks to Disavow Kerry Connection

By CHARLES SHEEHAN, AP Business Writer

PITTSBURGH - H.J. Heinz Co. has launched an election-year campaign of its own, this one to distance the ketchup maker from what is shaping up to be an acrimonious presidential race.

The company has sent nearly 50 letters to radio and television talk shows nationwide to tamp down chatter on the airwaves and Internet suggesting revenue from ketchup sales will benefit the campaign of pending Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry (news - web sites).

His wife is Teresa Heinz Kerry, heiress to the $500 million family ketchup fortune.

The company has received about 150 calls this month from consumers vowing to boycott Heinz products, or in some instances to buy more, said company spokeswoman Debbie Foster.

"It's just crazy," Foster said. "We haven't been involved in politics since Morris the Cat ran for president in 1988" — when the company ran a spoof campaign with Morris, the face of Heinz 9 Lives cat food, as the finicky candidate.

Heinz Kerry, who was married to Republican Senator H. John Heinz III when he was killed in a 1991 plane crash, is not on Heinz's board and is in no way involved with company management, Foster said.

Collectively, Heinz Kerry, along with her children with John Heinz and The Heinz Endowments which she chairs, own less than 4 percent of outstanding company stock.

The company has not seen any effect on sales. But it took action after The Heinz Endowments was accused of funding Peaceful Tomorrows, a group for Sept. 11 victims' families that criticized President Bush (news - web sites)'s use of footage from the attacks in political ads.

The Heinz Endowments President Maxwell King and David Potorti, co-director at Peaceful Tomorrows, have repeatedly denied any link.

While many talk shows have since backed away from those claims, Internet chat rooms are still buzzing with calls for a Heinz boycott.

[nutmeg]

ping!

Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my infrequent ‘miscellaneous’ ping list.

[Porterville]

I didn't buy a damn thing from Heinz today... 80% of their operations is overseas (I think this is correct).

John Kerry's company is big time into outsourcing. What a horrible thing to do to the poor working man, I wonder if his company is dodging taxes by stationing 80% of operations overseas? How many workers are displaced by such greed? What an awful greedy man, terrible corporate crook, just awful.

[Porterville]

I didn't buy a damn thing from Heinz today... 80% of their operations is overseas (I think this is correct).

John Kerry's company is big time into outsourcing. What a horrible thing to do to the poor working man, I wonder if his company is dodging taxes by stationing 80% of operations overseas? How many workers are displaced by such greed? What an awful greedy man, terrible corporate crook, just awful.

[battleax]

No I'll take Hunt's with the truth !!!!!

[battleax]

No I'll take Hunt's with the truth !!!!!

[battleax]

No I'll take Hunt's with the truth !!!!!

[Boo-ba-loo]

Heinz owns Del Monte, too.

[LisaMalia]

They can save their breathe, I'll never again buy a Heinz product.

Senator Heinz (may he rest in peace) should have chosen his mate more carefully. Ter-AY-Sa and her hubby already have money funneling in from too many sources (AOL, Time Warner, etc.)

They don't need my 2 bucks for a bottle of ketchup to add to their till.

[anonsquared]

Long time lurker - first time poster.
For those who like the ketchup but hate what it's funding...

Heinz Ketchup

1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk until smooth. When mixture comes to a boil, reduce heat and slimmer for 20 minutes, stirring often. Remove pan from heat and cover until cool.

Chill and store in a covered container.

Found at:
http://www.recipegoldmine.com/namebrand/namebrand104.html

[Paulie]

Wow! This is the first time I've seen a boycott, or potential of one, have an impact. I've been doing my part, even trying brand X, which wasn't as bad as I thought.

[LisaMalia]

Weight Watchers? That's interesting. Does Heinz own Weight Watchers, or just produce some of their food?

[LisaMalia]

Thanks for the recipe! And think of all the money we can save (and send the savings to President Bush's re-election campaign.)....:)

[nutmeg]

I think Heinz just produces the Weight Watchers food items. I'm not sure about the organization itself. Darn, I actually really like some of those 'Smart Ones' frozen desserts! :-(

[DeFault User]

Heinz needs to go back in time and sponsor a more capable candidate for President. I never heard this guy flip flop, make stupid statements or cuss out Secret Service agents.

[AmericanVictory]

Yes, they will never catch up.

[rwfromkansas]

I am not boycotting. For one, you don't have a choice in restaurants usually. But, also, the company is not really Heinz anymore.

Now, if someone can show that Mrs. Kerry gets lots of money from this, then I will change my mind. I don't want her profiting from this.....that witch.

As for the link between The Heinz foundations and Peaceful tomorrows, there is a link of some degree as FR showed. Whether any of the money from the foundation ended up with Peaceful Tomorrows is up in the air though IIRC. It did go to the Tides Foundation, which is bad enough by itself. But whether the money ended up with Peaceful Tomorrows is uncertain (until they let us see their records). Regardless, Heinz-Kerry is one nasty witch funding leftist causes and sneaking around to get her husband elected.

[rwfromkansas]

I don't get anything but Heinz ketchup. And while I have not instituted a full boycott like I said in another post (will eat Heinz at the restaurant), I do now get another type of ketchup.

[rwfromkansas]

agreed.

[rwfromkansas]

Well, that is how much she and the rest of the kids get collectively. They did not break it down per kid.

Probably 100 million or so..maybe 200...who knows (not sure how many kids). Still a lot.

[P-Marlowe]

Heinz owns Del Monte, too.

I don't think that is true. Apparently Del Monte purchased some brands from Heinz.