THUNDER BAY – Heinz closed their Canadian facility that manufactured their famous tomato ketchup. French’s has re-opened the plant in Leamington Ontario and started making ketchup. The move has generated a massive social media buzz as people are shifting from the iconic Heinz Ketchup to French’s Ketchup.
Many are going after the American based Heinz, for closing their Canadian plant and embracing French’s – which is another American based company.
The decision by Heinz to close was likely made for business reasons. Just as the decision by French’s to re-open the plant was made for business reasons.
While it is easy to support the Canadian made French’s ketchup, lets not get too overly patriotic about it. Its just trading one American company for another American company.
The French’s company, was founded in 1904 when its famous mustard was introduced to people at the St. Louis World’s Fair.
The decision by the company to re-open the Leamington Ontario Plant is one good for Canada and good for the farmers and workers in Leamington, but it is not some great Canadian takeover of the ketchup world.