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Heinz Wattie's Limited
IndustryFood processing
Founded1934; 90 years ago (1934)
FounderSir James Wattie
Headquarters
Hastings
,
New Zealand
ParentKraft Heinz
Websitewatties.co.nz

Heinz Wattie's Limited (or simply Wattie's) is a New Zealand–based food producer of frozen and packaged fruit, vegetables, sauces, baby food, cooking sauces, dressings and pet foods in the New Zealand market.

History

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Founded in Hawke's Bay in 1934 by Sir James Wattie and Harold Carr, the company initially operated under the name J. Wattie Canneries Limited (later J Wattie Foods Limited and its related companies). Its first product was jam, as Wattie was unhappy that an Auckland jam-making business intended to import jam pulp from Australia.[1][2]

In February 1962, the company's factory and plant in Hastings was largely destroyed in a fire.[1][3][2] The fire destroyed he main steam line from the boiler room to the processing plant, however the four boilers themselves were not damaged and production was restored 50 hours afterwards. The insurance claim for damage was half a million pounds, the largest insurance loss in New Zealand to that date.[2]

In 1980, Wattie Industries and Goodman Fielder purchased shares in each other’s companies that led to a merger in 1987 to create Goodman Fielder Wattie Ltd. In 1992 the Wattie’s group was bought from Goodman Fielder by American-based H. J. Heinz Company for $565 million.[4]

The company employs around 1,900 people, of which approximately 350 are temporary or casual. The company produces its own Wattie's products, some international brands of H. J. Heinz Company, as well as local products under brands like Craig's, Farex, Eta, Oak, Good Taste Company, Greenseas, Earth's Best, Complan, Chef and Champ.

The company has three production centres in New Zealand. Two are located in Hastings, New Zealand, where the company was founded, and over 1,200 product lines are produced there. The third production plant, which focuses on producing frozen and dry vegetables, is located in Christchurch.[5]

Products

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Wattie's has an extensive product line consisting of thousands of products. Its baby food products are broken down into five main categories: birth–4 months, 4–6 months, 6–7 months, 8–9 months and 12 months or older.[6] Other canned foods include baked beans, spaghetti, soup, preserved fruits such as apricots and pears, sauce bases, animal food, frozen meals and frozen vegetables.

Wattie's tomato sauce is made in New Zealand, and products carry the label "NZ's Favourite". The television commercials throughout the 1990s used the line "You'll always be a Kiwi, if you love our Wattie's Sauce".[7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Generation after generation – 90 years of Wattie's in Hawke's Bay celebrated". NZ Herald. 29 September 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Forged by fire - Hawkes Bay Today News". NZ Herald. 29 September 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  3. ^ "'An ordeal by fire': Wattie's blaze destroyed one third of factory". NZ Herald. 28 September 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  4. ^ "Our History". Heinz Wattie's. 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  5. ^ Jansen, Kees; Vellema, Sietze (2013). Agribusiness and Society: Corporate Responses to Environmentalism, Market Opportunities and Public Regulation. Zed Books Ltd. p. 97. ISBN 978-1-84813-608-3.
  6. ^ "Baby Food". www.forbaby.co.nz. Watties Baby Products. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  7. ^ "Wattie's tomato sauce shortage not related to coronavirus panic-buying". Stuff.co.nz. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
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