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| Industry | Food processing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1934; 91 years ago (1934) |
| Founder | SirJames Wattie |
| Headquarters | , |
| Parent | Kraft Heinz |
| Website | watties.co.nz |
Heinz Wattie's Limited (or simplyWattie's) is a New Zealand–based food producer of frozen and packaged fruit, vegetables, sauces, baby food, cooking sauces, dressings and pet foods in theNew Zealand market.
Founded inHawke's Bay in 1934 by SirJames Wattie and Harold Carr, the company initially operated under the name J. Wattie Canneries Limited (later J Wattie Foods Limited and its related companies). Its first product was jam, as Wattie was unhappy that an Auckland jam-making business intended to import jam pulp from Australia.[1][2]
In February 1962, the company's factory and plant inHastings was largely destroyed in a fire.[1][3][2] The fire destroyed the main steam line from the boiler room to the processing plant, however the four boilers themselves were not damaged and production was restored 50 hours afterwards. The insurance claim for damage was half a million pounds, the largest insurance loss in New Zealand to that date.[2]
In 1980, Wattie Industries andGoodman Fielder purchased shares in each other’s companies that led to a merger in 1987 to createGoodman Fielder Wattie Ltd. In 1992 the Wattie’s group was bought from Goodman Fielder by American-basedH. J. Heinz Company for $565 million.[4]
The company employs around 1,900 people, of which approximately 350 are temporary or casual. The company produces its own Wattie's products, some international brands ofH. J. Heinz Company, as well as local products under brands like Craig's, Farex, Eta, Oak, Good Taste Company, Greenseas, Earth's Best, Complan, Chef and Champ.
The company has three production centres in New Zealand. Two are located inHastings, New Zealand, where the company was founded, and over 1,200 product lines are produced there. The third production plant, which focuses on producing frozen and dry vegetables, is located inChristchurch.[5]
Wattie's has an extensive product line consisting of thousands of products. Its baby food products are broken down into five main categories: birth–4 months, 4–6 months, 6–7 months, 8–9 months and 12 months or older.[6] Other canned foods includebaked beans, spaghetti, soup, preserved fruits such asapricots andpears, sauce bases, animal food, frozen meals and frozen vegetables.
Wattie's tomato sauce is made in New Zealand, and products carry the label "NZ's Favourite". The television commercials throughout the 1990s used the line "You'll always be a Kiwi, if you love our Wattie's Sauce".[7]
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