PITTSBURGH, Dec. 13, 2000 /PRNewswire/ -- The board of directors of H. J. Heinz Company (NYSE: HNZ), at a meeting on December 13, 2000, declared the quarterly dividend of:

COMMON STOCK

39-1/4 cents per share on the company's 25 cent par value Common Stock payable January 10, 2001 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 25, 2000.

PREFERRED STOCK

42-1/2 cents per share on the company's Third Cumulative Preferred Stock, $1.70 First Series, payable January 1, 2001 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 25, 2000.

ABOUT HEINZ: With sales over US$9 billion, H. J. Heinz Company is one of the world's leading marketers of branded foods to consumers everywhere, whether in supermarkets, restaurants or on the go. Its 50 companies operate in some 200 countries, with more than 20 power brands, including the Heinz brand with nearly $3 billion in annual sales. Among the company's famous brands are Heinz, StarKist, Ore-Ida, 9-Lives, Wattie's, Plasmon, Farley's, Smart Ones, The Budget Gourmet, Bagel Bites, John West, Petit Navire, Kibbles 'n Bits, Pounce, Pup-Peroni, Orlando, ABC, Olivine, Juran and Pudliszki. Heinz also uses the famous brands Weight Watchers, Boston Market and Linda McCartney under license. Information on Heinz is available at http://www.heinz.com. SOURCE H. J. Heinz Company

CONTACT: MEDIA: Ted Smyth, SVP-Corp. & Govt. Affairs, 412-456-5780; Debbie Foster, Director-Corp. Comm., 412-456-5778; or Jack Kennedy, GM- Strategic Comm., 412-456-5923; INVESTORS: Jack Runkel, VP-Investor Relations, 412-456-6034, all of Heinz/