On the Bookshelf: Book on Heinz: Life in more than ketchup

“It Was Never About the Ketchup!” was just quirky enough for me to wonder, then, what brought about success for H.J. Heinz, the man behind the global ketchup company?

In his 125-page book, author Steve Lentz explores that question. What he found is that every aspect of Heinz’s life, from his role as a successful businessman, to the role of a father charged with teaching his sons about money, was driven not by greed but by a desire to do the right thing and to make a difference in the world around him.

Lentz writes: “H.J. Heinz built an empire by doing common things uncommonly well! In the process, he left his mark on the world and left a legacy – a fortune – for generations to come. But his focus was never on his fortune. It was never about the ketchup!”

Smart growth

Heinz’s business journey started small in 1869, under the firm name Heinz and Noble. The company raised horseradish and bottled the grated product. The company cultivated just three-quarters of an acre for its crop, and all bottling, selling and warehousing activity was mostly done in the basement of the Heinz family’s former home.

Starting small was something Heinz continued at each phase of his professional life, not because he was timid or hesitant, but because, as Lentz wrote, “He was never satisfied to do anything until he knew all about it, and to his simple and direct manner of thought, the best way was to find out experimentally.” Each time a food product was added to the company, which later went bankrupt but was the clear lineal ancestor to today’s Heinz company, many trials first had to be conducted.

Of ethics and principles

Much of the book covers Heinz’ relationships with people – his family, his bankers and his employees. His hiring practice, according to Lentz, was that he didn’t pick men simply to work for him. “He picked them to work with and after him. He studied youngsters to find among them chiefs of the future (and) trained them to train their successors!” He taught his employees that they needn’t be in fear for their jobs or safety, and he helped them to understand discipline so that they would follow it – and they did.

Heinz was a man who understood the value of hard work, and who thought nothing of rolling up his sleeves to do whatever task lay at hand. Heinz also had no tolerance for debt, and operated with the definition of prompt pay as “living credit.” Paying bills on time, he knew, would bring advantages in price, delivery and discounts.

Matters of faith

While the book includes historical photos and illustrations, perhaps the clearest picture was that of Heinz as a man of faith who allowed his religious principles to guide every decision he made. His faith was something he stood on every day, and in fact, in his will, the first thing he mentioned was not the dividing up of his fortune but his faith. He desired “to bear witness to the fact that throughout my life, in which there were the usual joys and sorrows, I have been wonderfully sustained by my faith in God through Jesus Christ … to it I attribute any success I may have attained during my life,” as his will read.

One of my favorite examples was when Heinz paid the debts of a man who, years earlier when Heinz’ first venture was failing, did nothing to help him keep it afloat. Rather than remembering bitterly the man’s reluctance to help, Heinz turned the other cheek and got out his wallet.

This is a book that moves quickly and is full of interesting history and tidbits about Heinz’s business ventures. But more than that, it’s an up-close look at the man behind the ketchup. I enjoyed meeting him. [[In-content Ad]]