heinz tomato ketchup

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Feeling the squeeze: Heinz Tomato Ketchup to be shelved in South Africa

Heinz Tomato Ketchup has been discontinued in South Africa – only months after HP Sauce disappeared from our shelves and while another Marmite ‘crisis’ is looming.

heinz tomato ketchup

Image: Adobe Stock

In another blow to South African food lovers, Heinz Tomato Ketchup is set to be discontinued in South Africa.

Heinz Tomato Ketchup to be discontinued in South Africa

Only months after it was announced that HP Sauce will be discounted in South Africa, Mandy Murphy, the managing executive foods for PepsiCo SA, told Food24 that Pioneer Foods had been procuring, distributing and selling Heinz Ketchup in South Africa under licence from Kraft Heinz, the fifth-largest food and beverage company in the world.

But, the licence for South African distribution expired at the end of May 2020 and has not been renewed.

If you are wondering what you are going to put on your scrambled eggs, some people reminded those who are worried that there is still a South African favourite on the shelves: All Gold Tomato Sauce.

All Gold vs Heinz Tomato Sauce

“All Gold is better anyway,” said one social media user. Others suggested that SA grocers turn to local producers of similar sauces in any case. “Locally made sauces by small entrepreneurs are really awesome and should fill the gap in the market.”

Others are not so sure. “There is only one…and that is Heinz Tomato Sauce! I will miss it.”

What about the Marmite ‘crisis’?

And if that’s not enough, many South Africans are wondering what happened to Marmite. Last year, supplies of Marmite were affected due to the ingredient brewer’s yeast being in short supply as a result of the alcohol ban.

According to JacarandaFM, the last few months were also difficult for the Marmite factories because they struggled to get enough stock of yeast during the national lockdown.  

Marmite is made of spent brewer’s yeast, and two of Marmite’s yeast suppliers in South Africa were not allowed to trade due to the restriction regulations. Yeast – a by-product of beer manufacturing – is the key ingredient in Marmite.