Heinz® 57® Sauce celebrates 100 years of adding zest and flavor to meals

First introduced in 1911, Heinz 57 Sauce is celebrating 100 years of infusing fun and excitement into grilling fare across America. A favorite of families for generations, its versatile recipe adds a tangy twist to steak, chicken, pork, seafood and more. Company Founder Henry J. Heinz, famed maker of ’57 Varieties®’ introduced the namesake steak sauce as a way to give zest to your favorite meats. To celebrate a century of grilling, specially marked 100th anniversary bottles will be on store shelves nationwide in July.

“Whether on the grill or in the kitchen, on pork, steak, chicken or veggies, this iconic Heinz product has been a part of kitchens and grills across America for a hundred years. That’s an accomplishment we are very proud of,” says Eric Dahmer, Senior Brand Manager, Heinz 57 Sauce. “As families and tastes have evolved, the product remains a staple in households across the country, much like Heinz Ketchup, another Heinz brand with more than a century of heritage.”

Eighty percent of North American households own a grill and use it year round1 and more than 65 percent of Americans like to dress up their grilled dishes with sauces, marinades or seasonings2. With so many families grilling, Heinz 57 Sauce has become a staple in many kitchens and backyards across the U.S. and has secured its place as a part of Americana.

Some Heinz 57 highlights in pop culture include:

• In 1976: The sauce was immortalized by musician Jimmy Buffet when he sang “I like mine with lettuce and tomato, Heinz 57 and French fried potatoes” in his legendary tune Cheeseburger In Paradise.
• In 1985: Actor Vic Tayback, diner owner Mel Sharples in the hit sitcom “Alice,” became the official spokesperson for the brand. The tagline used was “More than a steak sauce. A heckuva lot more,” highlighting the versatility of the product.

An American Classic for 100 Years

The product now known as Heinz 57 Sauce was first introduced as Heinz Beefsteak Sauce in 1911 and was sold for just 25 cents. At a time when outdoor grilling was rising in popularity, Heinz wanted to produce a sauce unlike any other available at the time. From its flavor to its heavier consistency, to ensure it doesn’t splash on your grill, Heinz created a unique product that they literally called their own. Throughout the years, the name of the product has changed to reflect consumer tastes at the time — at times, the product included the words “beef” or “steak” when recipes featuring those ingredients rose in popularity. Eventually, the name evolved to what Americans know today, Heinz 57 Sauce, reflecting the versatility of the product’s uses across meat, fish and vegetable dishes.

The Story Behind 57

In 1892, Founder and Company President Henry J. Heinz spotted an advertisement for “21 styles of shoes” while riding an elevated train to New York City. He liked the idea of using a number to advertise products and adopted the slogan “57 Varieties.” Even though Heinz was making more than 60 varieties at the time, he chose 57 because his lucky number was five and his wife’s lucky number was seven. And thus, the iconic “57 Varieties” was born. In 1913, the number was incorporated into Heinz Beefsteak Sauce to become Heinz 57 Beefsteak Sauce.

For more than 57 ways to ‘take it up a notch’ when grilling with Heinz 57 Sauce, visit Heinz57.com.

References

1. Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association, 2011 State of the Barbecue Industry Report http://www.hpba.org/media/barbecue-industry/2011-state-of-the-barbecue-industry-report
2. Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association, HPBA’s 2010 National Barbecue Month poll http://grilljunkie.blogspot.com/