That’s the interesting part.
The number wasn’t necessarily a precise count.
Instead, it was chosen as a memorable marketing phrase.
Heinz settled on:
“57 Varieties.”
It was catchy.
It was easy to remember.
And it suggested that the company offered an impressive range of products.
In reality, the company had already surpassed 57 products.
The number was essentially a branding decision rather than a literal inventory count.
That makes the story even more fascinating.
So the “57” Isn’t the Number of Ketchup Varieties
This is probably the biggest misconception.
If you’ve ever assumed that Heinz has 57 different types of ketchup, you’re not alone.
But the famous number doesn’t mean that there are exactly 57 varieties of ketchup.
It comes from the company’s historic “57 Varieties” slogan.
In other words, the number was associated with the broader Heinz product range and brand identity.
It wasn’t intended to tell consumers that the ketchup itself came in exactly 57 versions.
