Heinz Green Sauce
Bright Green Limited-Edition Ketchup
Forgotten Food & Drinks · 2001
Archived on
Associated With
H. J. Heinz Company - manufacturer; Heinz UK - British launch and marketing
Defining Feature
Bright green tomato ketchup in a 342g limited-edition squeeze bottle
Status
Discontinued — sold as a limited edition; exact withdrawal date unknown.
Overview
In 2001, Heinz Green Sauce gave familiar tomato ketchup a startlingly bright green makeover.
The limited-edition 342g squeeze bottle declared that it was made with Heinz Tomato Ketchup. Reports said blue and yellow food colourings changed its appearance, while Heinz intended the taste to remain the same.
Its colour drew launch attention, and a published UK marketing case study attributed a peak 5% value share to it. Heinz introduced its Eazy Squirt children’s brand in Britain in 2002, but the relationship between that range and Green Sauce remains unclear.
Why It Mattered
Green Sauce challenged something shoppers rarely thought about: ketchup was supposed to be red. Heinz kept the promise of a familiar taste while making its appearance the talking point—a small change that turned an everyday condiment into a novelty.
The British Launch Timeline
- Reports in July 2000 said Heinz was monitoring American sales but had not committed to a British release.
- Green Sauce reached British shops in 2001, although reports conflict on whether it was already arriving by 22 June or launched in July.
- The conflicting reports support 2001 as the launch year but not an exact month or day.
Colour, Recipe and Bottle
- Reports said blue and yellow food colourings were added to Heinz’s regular red tomato-sauce recipe.
- Heinz intended the green product to taste the same as the red version.
- The documented British pack was a green plastic squeeze bottle with a green cap, a 342g marking and a limited-edition label.
Green Sauce and Eazy Squirt
- A published UK timeline lists Green Sauce in 2001 and the Eazy Squirt children’s brand in 2002 as separate launches.
- Heinz’s 2002 annual report grouped British green and orange sauces under Eazy Squirt, leaving the exact relationship unresolved.
- A UK marketing case study attributed a peak 5% value share to Green Sauce.
- No reliable record provides a confirmed British withdrawal or final production date.
Sources & Records
- Heinz launches green ketchup in Britain — June 2001 report — Describes the British arrival, added colours and intended unchanged taste.
- Marketing Excellence — Heinz packaging and product timeline — Dates Green Sauce to 2001, reports its peak value share and distinguishes the 2002 Eazy Squirt launch.
- H. J. Heinz annual report, 2002 — Confirms the later British introduction of green and orange Eazy Squirt sauces.
- Advertising composition and visual meaning — French teaching resource — Reproduces the green 342g limited-edition Heinz bottle, including its ‘Made with Heinz Tomato Ketchup’ label.
Gallery
Credit
Académie de La Réunion (PDF host); photographer unidentified
Licence
Historical Ephemera
Displayed for commentary, criticism, research and historical documentation where permitted by applicable law. No permission for reuse is granted.
Caption
Heinz Green Sauce bottle, showing the green-striped packaging and limited-edition front label.
Credit
leepool89 (eBay seller/uploader; photographer unverified)
Licence
Historical Ephemera
Displayed for commentary, criticism, research and historical documentation where permitted by applicable law. No permission for reuse is granted.
Caption
Rear view of the Heinz Green Sauce bottle, showing its ingredients, nutritional information and barcode.
Credit
Senator John Heinz History Center (catalogue host); image creator unverified
Licence
Historical Ephemera
Displayed for commentary, criticism, research and historical documentation where permitted by applicable law. No permission for reuse is granted.
Caption
Heinz EZ Squirt “Blastin’ Green” tomato ketchup, the US version, in a shaped squeeze bottle with a pointed nozzle.