Editing Heinz (section)

===21st century===
In 2001, Heinz acquired the pasta sauce, dry bouillon and soup business of [[Borden (company)|Borden Foods]]. CEO [[William R. Johnson]] stated that "They fit very well with our tomato-based expertise".<ref>{{Cite web| title = Heinz buys Borden units for $270M - Jun. 6, 2001| access-date = July 16, 2018| url = https://money.cnn.com/2001/06/06/deals/heinz/}}</ref>

On August 22, 2001, Heinz announced that it would acquire the Anchor Food Products' branded products, which included the Poppers line of appetizers, as well as the licensing rights to the [[TGI Fridays]] brand of frozen foods and appetizers.<ref>{{cite news |title=Heinz & McCain acquire Anchor Foods |url=https://www.foodnavigator.com/Article/2001/08/23/Heinz-McCain-acquire-Anchor-Foods |access-date=July 30, 2020 |work=foodnavigator.com |date=August 22, 2001 |archive-date=August 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230817174823/https://www.foodnavigator.com/Article/2001/08/23/Heinz-McCain-acquire-Anchor-Foods |url-status=dead }}</ref> The acquisition was completed on September 25.<ref>{{cite news |title=Heinz acquires Anchor's branded products |url=https://www.foodnavigator.com/Article/2001/09/26/Heinz-acquires-Anchor-s-branded-products |access-date=July 30, 2020 |work=foodnavigator.com |date=September 25, 2001 |archive-date=August 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230817174824/https://www.foodnavigator.com/Article/2001/09/26/Heinz-acquires-Anchor-s-branded-products |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Billionaire [[Nelson Peltz]] initiated a [[proxy battle]] during 2006, culminating in a vote to place five of Peltz's nominees on the Board. After the final vote, two of the five nominees joined the Heinz Board. The new members of the board were Nelson Peltz and Matthew Craig Walsh.

In 2002, Heinz announced that it had sold the StarKist and [[9Lives]] brands to [[Del Monte Foods]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Heinz sells several units to Del Monte |url=https://www.upi.com/Business_News/2002/06/13/Heinz-sells-several-units-to-Del-Monte/25751023982057/ |access-date=December 14, 2019 |work=UPI |language=en}}</ref>

In June 2008, Heinz began an advertising campaign in the UK for their new "New York Deli Mayo" products. The advertisement featured two men kissing in a family setting, which drew 200 complaints to the [[Advertising Standards Authority (United Kingdom)|Advertising Standards Authority]].<ref>{{cite news| url= http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article4205422.ece| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110510021152/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article4205422.ece| url-status= dead| archive-date= May 10, 2011|work=[[The Times]]|title=Heinz pulls mayonnaise ad over gay kiss furore|access-date= June 25, 2008 | location=London | first=Jenny | last=Booth | date=June 24, 2008}}</ref> On June 24, 2008, Heinz withdrew the advertisement, which had been planned for a five-week run. The company said that some of its customers had expressed concerns.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/jun/24/asa.advertising|work=The Guardian|title=Heinz pulls ad showing men kissing|access-date= June 25, 2008 | location=London | first=Mark | last=Sweney | date=June 24, 2008}}</ref> Withdrawing the advert was also controversial, with critics accusing Heinz of [[homophobia]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/kiss-goodbye-to-your-sales-stonewall-tells-homophobic-heinz-after-advert-is-pulled-853510.html|work=The Independent|title=Kiss goodbye to your sales, Stonewall tells 'homophobic' Heinz after advert is pulled|access-date=June 25, 2008|location=London|first=Terri|last=Judd|date=June 25, 2008|archive-date=November 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111162446/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/kiss-goodbye-to-your-sales-stonewall-tells-homophobic-heinz-after-advert-is-pulled-853510.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The gay rights group [[Stonewall (charity)|Stonewall]] called for a boycott of Heinz products. Some expressed surprise that it had responded to what they said was a relatively small number of complaints, compared to the UK's estimated 3.6&nbsp;million gay and lesbian consumers.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2008/jun/24/advertising.gayrights|work=The Guardian|title=Beanz meanz bigotz|access-date= June 25, 2008 | location=London | first=Ben | last= Summerskill | date=June 24, 2008}}</ref> [[Member of Parliament|MP]] [[Diane Abbott]] called the decision to withdraw the advert "ill-considered" and "likely to offend the gay community".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=36210&SESSION=891 |title=Early Day Motion 1889 |publisher=Edmi.parliament.uk |access-date=December 23, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090528010945/http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=36210&SESSION=891 |archive-date=May 28, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On February 14, 2013, it was announced that Heinz would be purchased by [[Berkshire Hathaway]] and [[3G Capital]] for $23{{nbsp}}billion.<ref name="Reuters">{{cite news|title=Buffett, Brazil's 3G team up for $23 billion Heinz buyout|last1=Berkowitz|first1=Ben|last2=Geller|first2=Martinne|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-berkshire-heinz-idUSBRE91D0PY20130215|work=Reuters|date=February 15, 2013|access-date=February 15, 2013|archive-date=February 15, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130215154946/http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/15/us-berkshire-heinz-idUSBRE91D0PY20130215|url-status=live}}</ref> Including debt assumption the transaction was valued at $28{{nbsp}}billion.<ref name="Reuters"/> According to Heinz, the deal was the largest in food industry history.<ref name="Reuters"/> Berkshire Hathaway and 3G would each own half of Heinz, with 3G running the company.<ref name="WSJ">{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324432004578304460522768842|title=In Heinz, Berkshire to Let Others Run Show|last=Holm|first=Erik|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=February 14, 2013|access-date=February 15, 2013}}</ref> Berkshire and 3G paid $72.50 a share.<ref name="WP">{{cite news|title=Berkshire joins 3G Capital to buy Heinz in $23 billion deal|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/berkshire-joins-3g-capital-to-buy-heinz-in-23-billion-deal/2013/02/14/c14df8cc-76ad-11e2-b102-948929030e64_story.html|last=Tracer|first=Zachary|date=February 14, 2013|access-date=February 15, 2013|newspaper=The Washington Post}}{{dead link|date=June 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> The acquisition was completed in June of that year. Berkshire and 3G immediately named [[Bernardo Hees]], former chief executive of [[Burger King|Burger King Worldwide Inc]], as the CEO.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.businessinsider.com/mcdonalds-ends-relationship-with-heinz-2013-10 | title=McDonald's Is Cutting Ties With Heinz For Hiring Former Burger King CEO | date=October 25, 2013 | access-date=October 25, 2013 }}</ref>

On August 13, 2013, Heinz announced it was cutting 600 jobs in North America.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323446404579011002050755642 | title=Heinz to Shed 600 Jobs in North America | work=The Wall Street Journal | date=August 13, 2013 | access-date=August 14, 2013}}</ref>
On October 25, 2013, fast-food chain [[McDonald's]] announced it would end its 40-year relationship with Heinz, after the former [[Burger King]], McDonald's competitor, chief Hees became CEO of Heinz.<ref name="YF-Heinz-2013">{{cite web|last=Baertlein|first=Lisa|title=Ketchup changeup: McDonald's dropping Heinz after CEO change|date=October 25, 2013 |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ketchup-changeup-heinz-ceo-prompts-194107781.html|publisher=Yahoo Finance|access-date=October 26, 2013}}</ref>

On March 25, 2015, Kraft Foods Group Inc. announced that it would merge with the H. J. Heinz Company, owned by [[3G Capital]] and [[Berkshire Hathaway]] Inc., to form the world's fifth-largest food and beverage company.<ref>{{cite press release |author= <!--Staff writers--> |title= H.J. Heinz Company And Kraft Foods Group Sign Definitive Merger Agreement To Form The Kraft Heinz Company |url= http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hj-heinz-company-and-kraft-foods-group-sign-definitive-merger-agreement-to-form-the-kraft-heinz-company-300055709.html |date= March 25, 2015 |access-date= March 26, 2015}}</ref> The companies completed the merger on July 2, 2015, with the latter changing its name to the Kraft Heinz Foods Company.<ref name="Name change - CA SOS" /><ref>{{cite press release |url= http://files.shareholder.com/downloads/ABEA-3QV6OO/323056694x0x837780/6F5AAFFE-7E3B-4804-8EEF-0B3F8743B03D/FINAL_Closing_Day_Press_Release.pdf |title= The Kraft Heinz Company Announces Successful Completion of the Merger between Kraft Foods Group and H.J. Heinz Holding Corporation |date= July 2, 2015 |access-date= January 23, 2015 |publisher= The Kraft Heinz Company |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150714043557/http://files.shareholder.com/downloads/ABEA-3QV6OO/323056694x0x837780/6F5AAFFE-7E3B-4804-8EEF-0B3F8743B03D/FINAL_Closing_Day_Press_Release.pdf |archive-date=July 14, 2015}}</ref>

In 2024, Carlos Abrams-Rivera took over as CEO of Kraft Heinz Co.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Newman |first=Jesse |date=14 August 2023 |title=Kraft Heinz Names Carlos Abrams-Rivera as Next CEO |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/kraft-heinz-names-carlos-abrams-rivera-as-next-ceo-ec02d5e7 |access-date=10 September 2024 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]}}</ref>