Heinz Ranks First Among Food Companies for 10th Consecutive Year in American Customer Satisfaction Index

H.J. Heinz Company (NYSE: HNZ) is proud to announce that it ranked first in overall customer satisfaction among food manufacturing companies for the tenth consecutive year in the American Customer Satisfaction Index™ (ACSI), which was released today.

Ranking first in the food manufacturing industry with an overall score of 89, Heinz also received the highest scores in the individual categories of perceived quality, perceived value and customer expectations, according to ACSI data. Heinz has now achieved the highest overall customer satisfaction score in the Index’s food manufacturing sector every year since 2000.

“Heinz has earned the Number One ranking for 10 consecutive years by doing what we do uncommonly well – interpreting consumer insights to manufacture premium food products that deliver consistently high quality, taste, nutrition and value,” said William R. Johnson, Heinz Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Heinz is proud that consumers recognize and value our enduring commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.”

The ACSI is produced under license from the University of Michigan. First published in October 1994, the ACSI is a national economic indicator of customer evaluations of the quality of products and services available to household consumers in the United States and produced by both domestic and foreign firms with substantial U.S. market shares. ACSI reports scores on a 0-100 scale at the national level and produces indexes for 10 economic sectors, 44 industries (including e-commerce and e-business), and more than 200 companies and federal or local government agencies.

“Buyer satisfaction with Heinz ketchup and the many other food products the Company manufactures ties luxury automakers Lexus and Cadillac for the highest score across all categories covered by ACSI,” stated Claes Fornell, professor at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business and founder of the American Customer Satisfaction Index.

In addition to the company-level satisfaction scores, ACSI produces scores for the causes and consequences of customer satisfaction and their relationships. The measured companies, industries, and sectors are broadly representative of the U.S. economy serving American households.

ABOUT HEINZ: H.J. Heinz Company, offering “Good Food Every Day”™ is one of the world’s leading marketers and producers of healthy, convenient and affordable foods specializing in ketchup, sauces, meals, soups, snacks and infant nutrition. Heinz provides superior quality, taste and nutrition for all eating occasions whether in the home, restaurants, the office or “on-the-go.” Heinz is a global family of leading branded products, including Heinz® Ketchup, sauces, soups, beans, pasta and infant foods (representing over one third of Heinz’s total sales), Ore-Ida® potato products, Weight Watchers® Smart Ones® entrees, T.G.I. Friday’s® snacks, and Plasmon infant nutrition. Heinz is famous for its iconic brands on six continents, showcased by Heinz® Ketchup, The World’s Favorite Ketchup®.