Heinz, H J

Heinz, H(enry) J(ohn)

(born Oct. 11, 1844, Pittsburgh, Pa., U.S.—died May 14, 1919, Pittsburgh) U.S. entrepreneur, founder of a major manufacturer of processed foods. He joined his father's brick-manufacturing business in Pittsburgh and simultaneously built up a produce business, delivering produce grown on his own land to local grocers. In 1876, with a brother and a cousin, he formed the F. & J. Heinz Co., a maker of pickles, ketchup, baked beans, and other prepared foods. It was reorganized in 1888 as the H.J. Heinz Co. and incorporated in 1905. Heinz served as its president until his death.