Today is the birthday (1844) of Henry John Heinz, U.S. businessman of German descent who founded the H. J. Heinz Company. Normally I would be a tad reluctant to celebrate the founder of a multi-national company, particularly one that specialized in processed foods. But Heinz was a man of admirable qualities that are still reflected in the company (even behind the obvious public rhetoric). Among other things, Heinz was noted for his scrupulously honest business practices, his desire to make his products healthy and unadulterated, and his genuine concern for all his workers. When he ran the company he provided his employees with free medical care, recreation facilities such as gyms, swimming pools, and gardens; and educational opportunities such as libraries, free concerts, and lectures. Heinz also led a successful lobbying effort in favor of the Pure Food and Drug Act in 1906. The point that seems lost on so many corporate “leaders” today is that Henry Heinz was an honest man turning an honest buck; he did not need to resort to unfair practices and backroom deals to be successful. Nor was greed his motive. He wanted his customers to enjoy his products because they were good. As such, I think his life is worthy of celebration. His motto was: “To do a common thing uncommonly well brings success.”
When I was a boy, Heinz baked beans was a household staple. There cannot be too many Brits or Aussies my age who did not have beans on toast on a regular basis (standard fare for us on Saturday evenings), or had beans as part of a full English brekker. I’ve used a fair number of Heinz products over the years (which now include some items such as Lea and Perrins Worcestershire sauce – because of corporate takeovers – which are indispensable in the kitchen). But rather than haul out a recipe with a Heinz product in it somewhere, I am simply going to give you two links. The first is to their general recipe area (where tomato ketchup features abundantly, as it also does in modern Asian cooking):
https://www.heinz.com/recipes/
The second is to their British site, focusing on beans (or beanz). Still a perennial favorite there, I gather.
Click on the beanz link, or roam around the “all recipes” section.
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