Heinz vs Hunt’s
Heinz and Hunt’s are America’s two favorite ketchup brands. Below, we will take a look at the similarities and differences between these two condiments. This information should help you decide the one that is right for you. If you already have a favorite between Heinz vs Hunt’s, be sure to vote for it in our poll at the end of this article!
Taste
Heinz has a smooth, tomato flavor that tastes natural. Hunt’s has a vinegary taste like A1 or a similar steak sauce brand. As you swallow Hunt’s ketchup, there is a slight acidic flavor that is unappealing to some people. We had three people taste these ketchup brands and everyone preferred Heinz for its smooth, tomatoey flavor over Hunt’s.
Appearance
The Heinz (pictured left) is much thicker compared to the thinner texture of Hunt’s (pictured right). Heinz almost looks a bit artificial compared to the smooth tomato sauce appearance of Hunt’s. It’s difficult to tell a color difference between these kinds of ketchup in person. If we had to say, the Heinz is slightly darker compared to Hunt’s.
Popularity
Heinz and Hunt’s are the two most popular ketchup products in the United States followed by the store brands and Del Monte. According to Statista.com, 197.92 million people used Heinz, and 84.22 million used Hunt’s in 2020. Heinz is undoubtedly the favorite ketchup by Americans.
Ownership & History
Heinz – The first product produced by Henry J. (H.J.) Heinz and his business partner L. Clarence Noble was horseradish made in 1869 through their company, Heinz & Noble Company. The business was not a success and ended up going bankrupt in 1875. Approximately a year later, H.J. Heinz, his brother, and a cousin formed a new business called F.J. Heinz, which was the company that made the first Heinz Ketchup. H.J.’s brother and the cousin were bought out and the company was renamed the H.J. Heinz Company. In July 2015, Kraft Foods merged with Heinz to create the food products giant, Kraft Heinz.
Hunt’s – The company was founded by William and Joseph Hunt in 1888. It was called Hunt Bros. and specialized in canning vegetables and fruits in its home state of California. By the 1940s, the company was canning 100 million cans per year of various products. The Hunt’s brand has had numerous owners through the years, however, it has been owned by Conagra Brands since 1990.
Nutrition
The only nutritional difference between these ketchup products is that Heinz has a gram more of sugar. Most people likely would not opt for Hunt’s over Heinz simply because of this difference.
| Heinz | Hunt’s | |
| Serving Size | 1 Tbsp (17g) | 1 Tbsp (17g) |
| Calories | 20 | 20 |
| Total Fat | 0g | 0g |
| Saturated Fat | 0g | 0g |
| Trans Fat | 0g | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 0mg | 0mg |
| Sodium | 180mg | 180mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 5g | 5g |
| Fiber | 0g | 0g |
| Total Sugars | 4g | 3g |
| Protein | 0g | 0g |
Ingredients
These ketchup brands contain very similar ingredients based on what is disclosed for their ingredients (see below). However, they do not taste similar as you learned in the “Taste” section above. Interestingly, vinegar is listed as the second ingredient in Heinz and the third ingredient in Hunt’s. You can unquestionably taste the vinegar in Hunt’s but not so much in Heinz.
Heinz – Tomato Concentrate From Red Ripe Tomatoes, Distilled Vinegar, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Corn Syrup, Salt, Spice, Onion Powder, Natural Flavoring.
Hunt’s – Tomato Concentrate Made From Vine Ripened Tomatoes, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Distilled Vinegar, Corn Syrup, Salt, Less Than 2% Of: Onion Powder, Natural Flavors.
Prices
Based on the prices from the stores reflected below, you will pay a premium for Heinz. The difference between the two average prices of each product was $1.22, which is quite significant. Given the popularity of Heinz, people are certainly willing to pay a premium for what they believe is superior ketchup.
| Store | Heinz (20oz.) | Hunt’s (20oz.) |
|---|---|---|
| Walmart | $2.23 | $1.19 |
| Kroger | $2.79 | $1.39 |
| Target | $2.39 | not available |
| HEB | $2.30 | $1.23 |
| Meijer | $2.49 | $1.29 |
| Safeway | $3.49 | not available |
| Albertsons | $2.79 | not available |
| Giant Eagle | $2.79 | $1.69 |
| Wegmans | $2.49 | not available |
| King Soopers | $2.99 | $1.99 |
| Average | $2.68 | $1.46 |
Poll: Heinz vs Hunt’s
Do you have a favorite ketchup between Heinz and Hunt’s? If so, vote for it in our poll. We don’t collect any personal data when you vote so please be honest with your selection. It will be interesting to view the results over time!
