# Why Heinz "57" exists even though they have around 70 products **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [February 23, 2012, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-heinz-57-exists-even-though-they-have-around-70-products/613779 "2012-02-23T23:38:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![goolia\_27](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f6c823/32.png) [@goolia\_27](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/goolia_27)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-heinz-57-exists-even-though-they-have-around-70-products/613779/1 "2012-02-23T23:38:09Z")
Although the company had more than 60 products in 1892, the number 57 was chosen because the numbers “5” and “7” held special significance to Henry J. Heinz. The number “5” was Henry Heinz’s lucky number; the number “7” was his wife’s lucky number.[ ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-heinz-57-exists-even-though-they-have-around-70-products/613779/2 "2012-02-24T00:11:29Z")
When commenting on a column, it’s helpful to include a link for everyone’s convenience. I assume this is the column you’re referring to? [http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/181/why-does-heinz-ketchup-say-57-varieties](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/181/why-does-heinz-ketchup-say-57-varieties) ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-heinz-57-exists-even-though-they-have-around-70-products/613779/3 "2012-02-24T10:25:16Z")
> [@goolia\_27](#): > > Although the company had more than 60 products in 1892, the number 57 was chosen because the numbers “5” and “7” held special significance to Henry J. Heinz. The number “5” was Henry Heinz’s lucky number; the number “7” was his wife’s lucky number.[ According Cecil’s article Heinz’ boigrapher cites “occult reasons” for sticking with 57. What are your sources that trumph the biographer’s? ---
**Author:** ![goolia\_27](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f6c823/32.png) [@goolia\_27](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/goolia_27)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-heinz-57-exists-even-though-they-have-around-70-products/613779/4 "2012-02-27T14:01:25Z")
> [@naita](#): > > According Cecil’s article Heinz’ boigrapher cites “occult reasons” for sticking with 57. What are your sources that trumph the biographer’s? I have never posted stuff before so I’m new 🙂 I got my info off of wikipedia, [Heinz 57 - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinz_57) Hopefully this helps you naita ---
**Author:** ![goolia\_27](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f6c823/32.png) [@goolia\_27](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/goolia_27)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-heinz-57-exists-even-though-they-have-around-70-products/613779/5 "2012-02-27T14:02:49Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > When commenting on a column, it’s helpful to include a link for everyone’s convenience. I assume this is the column you’re referring to? > > [Why does Heinz ketchup say “57 varieties”? I only see one variety - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/181/why-does-heinz-ketchup-say-57-varieties) Sorry~I’m new at this but yes that is the article ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-heinz-57-exists-even-though-they-have-around-70-products/613779/6 "2012-02-27T14:10:13Z")
The Wikipedia article cites an [NYT article](http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/fashion/13iht-design13.html?_r=1) with no attribution. I’ve googled “Heinz” and “lucky number” and just find this assertion repeated over and over again with no source attached. It might indeed be that the biographer condensed ‘lucky numbers’ down to ‘occult’ but in the absence of any other evidence, I’ll stick with the biography rather than Wikipedia. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-heinz-57-exists-even-though-they-have-around-70-products/613779/7 "2012-02-27T14:15:44Z")
The [official Heinz website](http://www.heinz.com/our-company/press-room/trivia.aspx) says: > [@](#): > > Henry thought 57 was a lucky number. Which doesn’t contradict his and his wife’s lucky numbers combined, but doesn’t directly support it either. Suspect it’s one of those things that has been mythologised so much that nobody will ever know the truth. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-heinz-57-exists-even-though-they-have-around-70-products/613779/8 "2012-02-27T15:31:59Z")
Heinz trivia page says > [@](#): > > What does the “57” stand for in Heinz’s famous slogan, “57 Varieties?” > > While riding a train in New York City in 1896, Henry Heinz saw a sign advertising 21 styles of shoes, which he thought was clever. Although Heinz was manufacturing more than 60 products at the time, Henry thought 57 was a lucky number. So, he began using the slogan “57 Varieties” in all his advertising. Today the company has more than 5,700 products around the globe, but still uses the magic number of “57.” [http://www.heinz.com/our-company/press-room/trivia.aspx](http://www.heinz.com/our-company/press-room/trivia.aspx) “Heinzitup” says > [@](#): > > [http://www.heinzitup.com/images/funfact\_5.gif](http://www.heinzitup.com/images/funfact_5.gif) > > In 1896 Henry Heinz was inspired by an advertisement he saw for “21 styles of shoes”. Using what he considered to be a magic lucky number, Henry came up with the slogan, “57 Varieties”, despite the fact that the company offered more than 60 products. Heinz today offers more than 5,700 quality products and is still known for its “57 Varieties”. [http://www.heinzitup.com/funfacts.asp](http://www.heinzitup.com/funfacts.asp) Not sure if Heinz official press pages trump a biographer. Not sure how “lucky numbers” and “occult reasons” differ. They sound like the same thing to me.