Deep Read: Heinz Ketchup hat die Welt erobert – doch der Konzern schreibt rote Zahlen

Heinz Ketchup, an iconic world brand comparable to Coca-Cola, has experienced a decline in sales and red figures in its 150th anniversary year. In Europe, the brand commands a market share of over 42 percent, making it the number one ketchup in Germany. With exports to more than 80 countries, Heinz Ketchup is produced in ten-second intervals at the largest ketchup factory in Europe, with each half-liter batch measured to ensure exact flow rates.

The brand's secret recipe, consisting only of tomatoes, vinegar, sugar, salt, and spices, has maintained its reputation since 1876 and is known for its pure, transparent packaging. However, recent tests from "Ökotest" magazine have lowered the brand's reputation due to high sugar content and increased levels of Alternariol, a mycotoxin.

Heinz is addressing these issues by improving quality tests and researching more resilient tomato varieties, including developing tomatoes that can withstand droughts caused by climate change. Additionally, Heinz is experimenting with "overheated" ketchup, grown under extreme conditions like on Mars, but the high sugar content remains a point of criticism.