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PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 25, 2006--H. J. Heinz Company (NYSE:HNZ) Chairman, President and CEO William R. Johnson today received the Marco Polo Award, considered to be the highest honor bestowed by the Chinese government on a foreign business leader, and announced that the H. J. Heinz Company Foundation plans to contribute more than $1 million to introduce its global non-profit micronutrient supplement program to improve nutrition and combat anemia among infants and children in isolated Chinese communities.

Mr. Johnson received the Marco Polo Award from Deputy Director General of the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs Zhang Jianguo at a banquet in Beijing attended by Chinese government leaders and representatives of the international business community. The award was presented in conjunction with the China Association for International Exchange of Personnel and the U.S.-China Foundation for International Exchanges in recognition of Heinz's contribution to the development of the Chinese food manufacturing industry during Mr. Johnson's tenure as CEO, as well as his commitment to providing meaningful exchange of technical knowledge and humanitarian assistance.

"The Marco Polo Award was created to recognize people, who like Marco Polo - a friendship ambassador - made significant contributions to the friendly exchange of knowledge and expertise between China and the West. We thank these people, institutions and enterprises who are dedicated to Sino-U.S. relations and cooperation. As the global head of Heinz, Mr. Johnson's outstanding leadership has led the Company towards impressive success. This award also recognizes Mr. Johnson's important role in promoting the exchange of talent between the two countries, as well as Chinese talent development," said Zhang Jianguo, Deputy Director General of the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs.

Mr. Johnson joins a distinguished list of former Marco Polo awardees, including President George H. W. Bush, and the CEOs of Johnson & Johnson, Ford Motor Company, Kodak, and AT&T among others.

Mr. Johnson said, "I am humbled to receive this honor on behalf of Heinz reflecting our steadfast commitment to improving nutrition in China. The late Jack Heinz, grandson of our founder, personally opened the first Heinz infant food factory in Guangzhou in 1986, the year before his death. The mission of the H. J. Heinz Company has been to provide Pure Foods for over a century and this is our mission in China."

Mr. Johnson continued: "Strategically, China is very important to Heinz, both as a market for superior nutritional foods and as an export base to the rest of the world, particularly for tomato products. Heinz has been dedicated for over 137 years to providing pure, nutritious foods around the world and I am delighted to deepen our commitment to China through a number of initiatives including the extension of our global micronutrient supplement program, which will ensure that hundreds of thousands of children in remote villages receive essential nutrients to grow up healthy and strong."

Heinz commits more than $1 million for introduction of its global non-profit micronutrient supplement program in rural Chinese communities

One of the H. J. Heinz Company Foundation's program areas is to promote improvements in and better understanding of good nutrition, contributing to the health and well-being of people and communities. To this end, the Foundation has been instrumental in the distribution of a flavorless powder that contains iron and other vital micronutrients that are often missing from the diets of people living in remote areas of developing nations. This powder is packaged in individual sachets and can be sprinkled atop staple foods like rice. It has been proven to be very effective at preventing anemia and malnutrition.

Heinz will contribute more than $1 million to a pilot project in China, targeting counties in western provinces over the next three years in cooperation with the Ministry of Health.

The Heinz Institute of Nutritional Sciences (HINS) Opens its 17th Symposium

Earlier today, Heinz opened the 17th annual Heinz Institute of Nutritional Sciences (HINS) International Symposium on Maternal and Infant Nutrition. This event, established by Heinz in China, underscores Heinz's global expertise in infant nutrition and longstanding commitment to the health and well-being of the future generations of China. Heinz is the number one infant cereal in China and the business is growing rapidly because of its commitment to innovation and its broad offering of nutritional products. Heinz was also the first food company to manufacture and market instant nutritionally fortified baby foods in China.

The Heinz Institute of Nutritional Sciences was established in 1986 with the aim of improving maternal and infant nutrition through promotion of nutritional knowledge and research. The activities of the Institute are governed by a scientific advisory board made up of renowned medical and nutrition experts in different parts of China.

Heinz agricultural assistance program results in 50 percent increase in field yields

Heinz's commitment to China extends from the field to the factory to the table. Heinz is the world's largest user of processed tomato products and has developed the world's largest database of all natural tomato hybrids. Heinz started the partnership with the Xinjiang tomato industry in 1999. The Company is now sharing its unparalleled seed technology and advanced cultivation methods with growers and processors in the Xinjiang region. Since 2005, Heinz, with strong cooperation from the China National Cereal Oils and Foodstuffs Company (COFCO), has committed a team of agricultural experts to provide on-site technical guidance throughout the growing season to improve the tomato crop in Xinjiang.

The demonstration program is open to any farmer in the region to learn modern processes for cultivation, weed control, irrigation, transplant production and crop scheduling. The result of the demonstration field has been an increase in field yields of almost 50 percent and implementation of sustainable soil maintenance practices.

In addition, Heinz has worked closely with the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and provincial and local governments to promote the expansion of this program.

Heinz dedicates 10-year fellowship for study of nutrition and health policy

Mr. Johnson also announced today that the H. J. Heinz Company Foundation has established a 10-year annual fellowship program whereby a qualified Chinese fellow will study health and nutrition policy at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and Industrial Administration beginning in 2007.

"We are pleased with the development of our business partnerships in China," Mr. Johnson said. "By providing the highest-quality, all-natural infant nutrition, introducing our micronutrient program, expanding our transfer of agricultural knowledge and helping the next generation of Chinese food industry policy makers, we are working to enhance our reputation as a trustworthy and reliable corporate citizen."

Heinz operates seven plants in China through its partnerships - in Qingdao, Shanghai, Chengdu, Tianjian and three in Guangzhou. It is building a modern new facility in Chengdu to replace the existing plant for the production of frozen food like dumplings, rice balls and other dim sum products. Heinz has sales of approximately $150 million in China, growing at double digit rates annually. The company employs 4,700 people and has plans to further expand employment as growth increases.

SAFE HARBOR PROVISIONS FOR FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are generally identified by the words "will," "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates" or similar expressions and include our expectations as to future revenue growth, earnings, capital expenditures and other spending, as well as anticipated reductions in spending. These forward-looking statements reflect management's view of future events and financial performance. These statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which may be beyond Heinz's control, and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from such statements include, but are not limited to:

    --  sales, earnings, and volume growth,

    --  general economic, political, and industry conditions,

    --  competitive conditions, which affect, among other things,
        customer preferences and the pricing of products, production,
        energy and raw material costs,

    --  the ability to identify and anticipate and respond through
        innovation to consumer trends,

    --  the need for product recalls,

    --  the ability to maintain favorable supplier relationships,

    --  currency valuations and interest rate fluctuations,

    --  change in credit ratings,

    --  the ability to identify and complete and the timing, pricing
        and success of acquisitions, joint ventures, divestitures and
        other strategic initiatives,

    --  approval of acquisitions and divestitures by competition
        authorities, and satisfaction of other legal requirements,

    --  the ability to successfully complete cost reduction programs,

    --  the voting results on shareholder proposals, including the
        recent nomination of nominees for election as directors of the
        Company,

    --  the ability to limit disruptions to the business resulting
        from the emphasis on three core categories and potential
        divestitures,

    --  the ability to effectively integrate acquired businesses, new
        product and packaging innovations,

    --  product mix,

    --  the effectiveness of advertising, marketing, and promotional
        programs,

    --  the ability to maintain sales growth while reducing spending
        on any advertising, marketing and promotional programs,

    --  supply chain efficiency,

    --  cash flow initiatives,

    --  risks inherent in litigation, including tax litigation, and
        international operations, particularly the performance of
        business in hyperinflationary environments,

    --  changes in estimates in critical accounting judgments and
        other laws and regulations, including tax laws,

    --  the success of tax planning strategies,

    --  the possibility of increased pension expense and contributions
        and other people-related costs,

    --  the possibility of an impairment in Heinz's investments, and

    --  other factors described in "Risk Factors" and "Cautionary
        Statement Relevant to Forward-Looking Information" in the
        Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 3, 2006.

The forward-looking statements are and will be based on management's then current views and assumptions regarding future events and speak only as of their dates. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by the securities laws.

ABOUT HEINZ: H. J. Heinz Company, offering "Good Food Every Day" is one of the world's leading marketers and producers of branded foods in ketchup, condiments, sauces, meals, soups, snacks and infant foods. Heinz satisfies hungry consumers in every outlet, from supermarkets, to restaurants to convenience stores and kiosks. Heinz is a global family of leading brands, including Heinz(R) Ketchup, Sauces, Soups, Beans, Pasta and Infant Foods (representing nearly one-third of total sales or close to $3 billion), Ore-Ida(R) frozen potato products, Boston Market(R)(a) frozen meals, T.G.I. Friday's(R)(a) frozen snacks, Weight Watchers(R)(a) Smart Ones(R) meals and Plasmon(R) baby food. Heinz's 50 companies have number-one or number-two brands in 200 countries, showcased by Heinz(R) Ketchup, the world's favorite ketchup. Information on Heinz is available at www.heinz.com/news.

(a) Weight Watchers on foods and beverages is the registered trademark of WW Foods, LLC and is used under license; Boston Market is a registered trademark of McDonald's Corporation and is used under license; T.G.I. Friday's is a trademark of T.G.I. Friday's of Minnesota, Inc. and is used under license.

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    CONTACT: H. J. Heinz Company
             Media:
             Ted Smyth, 412-456-5780
             Michael Mullen, 412-456-5751
             Michael.mullen@us.hjheinz.com
             or
             Investors:
             Jack Runkel, 412-456-6034

    SOURCE: H. J. Heinz Company