Ketchup and pickles have always held a special place in American comfort food, frequently accompanying classics like hot dogs and burgers. Now, Heinz is bringing these two beloved toppings together in an exciting condiment fusion: Pickle Ketchup.
According to Heinz, this new ketchup retains the familiar taste of the iconic Heinz ketchup while incorporating a subtle tang reminiscent of pickles. The company revealed that it developed this product, set to be available nationwide in early 2024, to cater to fans' desire for distinctive, refined, and nuanced flavor sensations.
It's no secret that pickles have experienced a surge in popularity lately, with various retailers introducing pickle-flavored products such as potato chips, mustard, seasoning blends, and even canned cocktails. Heinz acknowledged this "pickle obsession" and cited a Data essential report indicating that 73% of Americans expressed their fondness for the taste of pickles.
In recent years, our innovation focus has been on satisfying the growing appetite for unique and unexpected condiments," stated Katie Peterson, director of Heinz innovation at The Kraft Heinz Company in a press release. "The current pickle trend in America aligns with the passionate love that Heinz enthusiasts have for the brand, making it a natural step to merge these two cherished flavors.
Heinz's Pickle Ketchup is presently available at select retailers in the United Kingdom and is slated for launch in other markets later this year and early next.
Pickles have played a significant role within the Heinz brand's history, once even featuring a small gherkin in its logo until its removal in 2009. For over 150 years, Heinz has been a prominent name in the pickle industry, with the company's founder, Henry J. Heinz, earning the moniker "Pickle King" due to his ownership of the largest pickle company in the United States during the early 1900s.
The introduction of pickle-flavored ketchup isn't the sole fusion condiment from Heinz this autumn. The brand recently unveiled a limited run of 100 bottles of "Ketchup and Seemingly Ranch" sauce. This product drew inspiration from a viral photo of Taylor Swift enjoying chicken tenders alongside ketchup and what appeared to be ranch dressing.
Among Heinz's other innovations this year are three varieties of spicy ketchup, limited-edition "Sauce Drops," and Heinz Remix—a customizable digital sauce dispenser.