Kraft Heinz's Canadian subsidiary defends itself in political ketchup debate

Kraft Heinz (KC) is involved in a tariff debate in Canada. The company's Canadian subsidiary issued a statement on Thursday in which it said it is "deeply disappointed" that Prime Minister Trudeau has made misleading statements that Heinz Ketchup is not made in Canada and that it may be a potential target for countervailing tariffs.

"More than 1,000 hard-working Canadians at our Mont Royal Quebec facility, together with our many suppliers in the Province, produce Heinz Ketchup for Canadians using tomatoes grown in Leamington, Ontario. As one of the largest manufacturers of food in the country, Kraft Heinz is also the largest purchaser of tomatoes in Ontario."

Kraft Heinz Canada noted that except for the five years from 2015 to 2020, it has made ketchup in Canada for more than 100 years. 

Kraft Heinz Canada’s heritage can be traced back to 1903. Heinz Canada was established in 1909 in Leamington, Ontario, where its first products were pickles sourced from local growers. Following the 2015 merger between Kraft Foods Group and H.J. Heinz Company, Kraft Heinz Canada became a subsidiary of the newly formed Kraft Heinz Company (NASDAQ:KHC).