What was the first product made by the H. J. Heinz Company when it began in 1869?

The H. J. Heinz Company began in 1869 with prepared horseradish as its first product.

Henry J. Heinz started the business with his friend L. Clarence Noble in Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania. Heinz marketed the horseradish in clear glass bottles, allowing customers to see its quality and helping distinguish it from competitors' products sold in opaque containers.

The company later expanded into pickles, vinegar, sauces, soups, and other preserved foods. Tomato ketchup became its best-known product, but it was not the company's original product. Heinz introduced its famous ketchup later, building on the brand's early reputation for bottled food products.

The company's early emphasis on cleanliness, visible ingredients, and attractive packaging became important parts of the Heinz identity. The brand's familiar slogan, “57 Varieties,” was adopted in 1896, even though Heinz offered more than 57 products by that time.