Heinz to Build New Frozen Food Facility

New Factory Will Support Continued Growth of Frozen Meals Business
PITTSBURGH--(Business Wire)--
The H. J. Heinz Company (NYSE: HNZ) today announced it will build
a new manufacturing facility in Florence, S.C., to support its
high-growth frozen meals business in North America. Heinz will operate
the new 225,000-square foot state-of-the-art factory that will create
350 new jobs.

"Our frozen meals business is growing rapidly and the new facility
is a sign of our commitment to supporting and sustaining this growth,"
said Dave Moran, EVP, President and CEO of Heinz North America. "The
new facility will allow us to increase production of our Weight
Watchers(R) Smart Ones(R) and Boston Market(R) frozen entrees to meet
the growing consumer demand for our high-quality frozen meals."

"We are thrilled that Heinz chose Florence, S.C., as the location
for its new frozen food factory, which will create 350 new jobs in the
community over the next five years," said Frank Willis, Mayor of
Florence.

Heinz conducted a comprehensive search that included several
locations in multiple states before selecting South Carolina. The site
in Florence County was chosen for a number of reasons, including the
positive business environment and the quality and quantity of
available skilled labor in the area. The support Heinz received from
city, state and government officials during the location evaluation
process helped in determining the final site for the facility. The
partnership developed between Heinz and the community during the
planning process is one that will continue to grow long after the
facility begins operations.

"As we work to compete in a global economy, South Carolina's
ability to attract world-class companies is increasingly important,"
said Gov. Mark Sanford. "It's a sign of our success that we can
include Heinz among the companies that have chosen South Carolina as
the site for a major manufacturing facility."

Heinz selected a 49-acre site in the Pee Dee Touchstone Energy
Commerce City, South Carolina's premier business/industrial park. The
park is a shovel-ready site that has been certified by the South
Carolina Department of Commerce.

"As a state senator and resident of Florence County, I am
delighted that Heinz has chosen to establish a manufacturing presence
in our community," said Senator Hugh K. Leatherman. "Heinz joins a
growing list of blue chip companies that recognize the competitive
business benefits the Pee Dee region provides. We look forward to a
long and prosperous relationship for many years to come."

The Florence, S.C., location also will allow Heinz to better serve
its customers through the Company's Southeast and Northeast
distribution centers.

"This is a great day for Florence County," stated Florence County
Council Chairman, K.G. "Rusty" Smith. "Heinz is an outstanding company
with an impeccable reputation that will provide quality jobs for the
citizens of this community. The Heinz name is one of the most
recognizable in the world, and we are proud and honored to have the
Company as our newest corporate citizen."

"This is yet another example of what can be accomplished when
everyone is working toward a common goal," said Dr. Charles Gould,
chairman of Florence County Economic Development Partnership. "Without
the support of our many partners and allies, as well as our private
sector members, Florence County Progress, today's announcement would
not have been possible."

Ground breaking for the facility is scheduled for summer 2008 and
construction is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2009. Heinz
North America employs more than 10,000 employees.

SAFE HARBOR PROVISIONS FOR FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:

This press release and our other public pronouncements contain
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, dividend policy,
and planned credit rating, 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,
including those that could impact consumer spending,

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

-- increases in the cost and restrictions on the availability of
raw materials, including agricultural commodities and
packaging materials, the ability to increase product prices in
response, and the impact on profitability,

-- 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,

-- changes in credit ratings, leverage, and economic conditions
and the impact of these factors on the cost of borrowing and
access to capital markets,

-- our ability to effectuate our strategy, which includes our
continued evaluation of potential acquisition opportunities,
including strategic acquisitions, joint ventures, divestitures
and other initiatives, including our ability to identify,
finance and complete these initiatives, and our ability to
realize anticipated benefits from them,

-- the ability to successfully complete cost reduction programs
and increase productivity,

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

-- product mix,

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

-- supply chain efficiency,

-- cash flow initiatives,

-- risks inherent in litigation, including tax litigation,

-- the ability to further penetrate and grow in international
markets, economic or political instability in those markets,
particularly in Venezuela, and the performance of business in
hyperinflationary environments,

-- changes in estimates in critical accounting judgments and
changes in 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 potential adverse impact of natural disasters, such as
flooding and crop failures,

-- the ability to implement new information systems and potential
disruptions due to failures in information technology systems,

-- with regard to dividends, dividends must be declared by the
Board of Directors and will be subject to certain legal
requirements being met at the time of declaration, as well as
our Board's view of our anticipated cash needs, 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 2, 2007.

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 healthy and convenient
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(R) Ketchup, sauces, soups, beans, pasta and infant
foods (representing over one third of Heinz's total sales), Ore-Ida(R)
potato products, Weight Watchers(R) Smart Ones(R) frozen entrees,
Boston Market(R) meals, T.G.I. Friday's(R) frozen snacks, and
Plasmon(R) infant nutrition. Heinz is famous for its iconic brands on
five continents, showcased by Heinz(R) Ketchup, The World's Favorite
Ketchup(R). More information on Heinz is available at www.heinz.com.

Heinz North America
Jessica Jackson, 412-237-3562
jessica.jackson@us.hjheinz.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008