What the 57 on a Heinz ketchup bottle really means (2024)

Heinz ketchup is a popular household staple for many Brits, who will be familiar with the '57' on the neck of the bottles.

However, people may be surprised to learn that the number not only has a meaning behind it, but also serves a functional purpose.

Why the number 57?

The '57 varieties' label represents the variety of products that Heinz has, but the number was actually selected at random by founder Henry Heinz himself.

He didn't have 57 varieties when the brand began. Instead, it was a clever way to create authenticity and attract customers.

The Heinz website explains: 'When he spotted a shoe company advertising 21 styles of shoe, he was inspired to create our iconic 57 varieties slogan.

'Why 57? No one knows for sure. Henry claimed five was his lucky number, and seven was his wife's. But he also believed seven was a significant number for people of all ages. Whatever his reasons, the number stuck around!'

The practical hidden meaning

Although the number was a random choice, the placement of it on the label was not - it has another hidden but practical meaning.

The '57' on the label is the perfect spot to tap or squeeze to get the sauce out easily and quickly.

A spokesperson from Heinz confirmed this to TODAY food: 'The sweet spot to tap on the Heinz bottle is the 57 on the neck.'

'All you need to do is apply a firm tap where the bottle narrows, and the ketchup will come out easier.'

Intentional or not, the number has remained an iconic part of Heinz packaging, making it's way onto the plastic bottles as well as glass.

It's also not limited to just ketchup - you can find the '57' on other products such as baked beans, tomato soup and mayonnaise.

On their trivia page, Heinz explain that ketchup exits the iconic glass bottle at exactly .028 miles per hour: 'If the viscosity of the ketchup is greater than this speed, the ketchup is rejected for sale.'

The man behind the brand

Described as an 'innovator' on the brands website, Henry Heinz used clear bottles for his first product, horseradish, at a time when most companies used brown ones.

Brands did this to hide their lower-grade ingredients, whereas Henry grew horseradish himself on a patch of garden his father gave him.

His values still remain in place today. In 2020 Heinz made a commitment to achieve 100% sustainable tomatoes by 2025 'to protect good food for future generations to enjoy.'

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