Heinz boasts return to UK growth

Heinz UK & Ireland is now growing in the low single digits for the first time in five years of “pretty flat sales”, according to president Dave Woodward.

Next year, the company would aim for “reasonable single-digit growth”, Woodward added. “Heinz is a great company. But effectively, the business hasn’t grown for five years. That’s not acceptable.”

Woodward, who , who replaced Jane Miller at the helm of the company last summer, said the outlook had improved markedly in the last six months, however. He said: “The proportion of the portfolio showing value growth was 25% six months ago. That’s not going to set any retail customer on fire. Today, it’s more like 45.5%.”

Woodward plans to launch more than 110 new products over the next financial year, including “something convenient that will take baked beans into a completely new area”

>>For the full interview, see the May issue of Food Manufacture magazine