What does the ’57’ on Heinz Ketchup bottles mean? My dad used to say something about it, but I just can’t remember what! Any ideas? It’s been driving me crazy! PB
# What Does the “57” on Heinz Ketchup Bottles Really Mean?
If you’ve ever picked up a bottle of Heinz ketchup and wondered why the number **57** is printed so prominently on it, you’re certainly not alone. For generations, people have stared at those two familiar digits and wondered whether they represent something hidden inside the bottle.
Does it mean 57 ingredients?
57 tomatoes?
57 different kinds of ketchup?
Or perhaps the number has something to do with the recipe itself?
The answer is much more interesting—and surprisingly simple.
The famous **“57 Varieties”** slogan is not a measurement, a recipe code, or a claim that there are 57 kinds of ketchup. Instead, it is a piece of advertising history dating back more than a century. In fact, when Heinz introduced the slogan, the company was already selling **more than 60 different products**.
So why choose 57?
The story begins with the founder of the company, **Henry J. Heinz**, and a clever piece of advertising he encountered while traveling through New York.
## The Story Begins With an Advertisement
Long before Heinz became synonymous with ketchup, Henry J. Heinz was already interested in food production and marketing.
Heinz began building his business in the nineteenth century, initially selling products such as bottled horseradish before expanding into pickles, vinegar, sauces, and other foods. His company grew by emphasizing quality, attractive packaging, and clever marketing.
By the 1890s, Heinz had developed a substantial range of products.
Then, during a trip through New York City in 1896, Heinz reportedly noticed an advertisement for a shoe company promoting **“21 styles”** of shoes. The exact details of the story have been repeated in slightly different ways over the years, but the central idea is consistent: Heinz recognized the power of a specific number in advertising.
Instead of simply telling customers that his company offered “many” products, he realized that a memorable number could make the claim more distinctive.
And so, the number 57 was born.
But there was an obvious problem.
Why 57?
## Why Did Heinz Choose 57?
This is where the story gets even more fascinating.
According to Heinz’s own explanations, the number wasn’t chosen because the company had exactly 57 products.
In fact, the company already sold more than 60 products when the slogan was introduced. That means “57 Varieties” was never intended to be a precise inventory list. It was a marketing slogan designed to make the brand memorable.
