Wattie's or Heinz Wattie's Limited is a New Zealand-based food producer of frozen and packaged fruit, vegetables, sauces, baby food, cooking sauces, dressings and pet foods.
Founded in 1934 by the late Sir James Wattie, the company operated in New Zealand under the name of J. Wattie Canneries Limited (later J Wattie Foods Limited and its related companies) until the group was bought by American-based H.J. Heinz Company in 1992.
The company employs around 1,900 people, of which approximately 350 are temporary or casual. The company produces its own Wattie's products, some international brands of H.J. Heinz Company, as well as local products under brands like Craig's, Farex, Eta, Oak, Good Taste Company, Greenseas, Earth's Best, Complan, Chef and Champ.
The company has three production centres in New Zealand. Two are based in Hastings, New Zealand, where the company was founded, and over 1,200 product lines are produced there.
In Christchurch, on the South Island the company has its third production plant which focuses on producing frozen and dry vegetables.
Wattie's has an extensive product line consisting of thousands of products.
Its baby food products are broken down into five main categories: birth - 4 months, 4 - 6 months, 6 - 7 months, 8 - 9 months and 12 months or older.
Other canned food includes baked beans, spaghetti, soup, preserved fruits such as apricots and pears, sauce bases, animal food, frozen meals and frozen vegetables.
Watties tomato sauce sold is made in New Zealand, and products carry the label "NZ's Favourite". The television commercials throughout the 1990s used the line "You'll always be a Kiwi, if you love our Wattie's sauce".
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