That’s why seeing the number on a ketchup bottle can be confusing.
You might naturally assume it refers to the sauce inside.
But its origins are much broader.
It’s essentially a piece of historical branding that became permanently associated with Heinz.
Why Was 57 Chosen?
This is where the story gets especially interesting.
If the number wasn’t an exact count, why choose 57?
Why not a round number like 50?
There are several stories associated with the choice, but the best-known account connects it to Henry Heinz’s fascination with memorable numbers.
The number had a certain rhythm.
“Fifty-seven varieties.”
It sounded good.
It was distinctive.
It was unusual enough to stand out.
And from a marketing perspective, that mattered.
Think about how many advertising slogans you’ve forgotten over the years.
Some were probably perfectly accurate.
Others may have contained impressive statistics.
But the slogans that survive are often the ones that are simple, unusual, and easy to repeat.
