When you think of Heinz, you’re probably thinking of their iconic ketchup bottles. If you’re a more die-hard fan of the brand, you may also be thinking of their mustard and BBQ bottles. Because they are such an old and iconic brand, you’re probably not expecting much in the way of new products from them. If that’s the case, you’re definitely not prepared for this story.
Recently, Heinz announced that they would be bringing “Mayochup” to American stores—a cross between ketchup and mayonnaise.
The idea to bring the condiment to America seems to have originated from a Twitter poll Heinz conducted on their corporate Twitter account.
The tweet in question read:
“Want #mayochup in stores? 500,000 votes for “yes” and we’ll release it to you saucy Americans.”
The resulting poll had 55% of people voting for it to come to America, as the product is already available in certain international markets (for example, in the Middle East).
The company also let out a news release explaining the reasoning behind the new product.
In the release, Heinz’s Director of Marketing, Nicole Kulwicki, also explained that the company would be releasing a New Deliciously Creamy Heinz Real Mayonnaise product as well. When mixed with trusty Heinz Ketchup, the result would essentially be the same as the prepackaged Mayochup which has yet to hit the shelves. As Kulwicki explained:
“At Heinz, we are always looking for opportunities to bring great tasting products to our consumers. Our new Heinz Real Mayonnaise recipe lives up to the same great taste and quality people have come to expect from the Heinz family of products, including ketchup, mustard and BBQ sauce.”
Needless to say, that statement should go for Mayochup as well.
Overall, the internet is having mixed reactions to the Mayochup roll out.
On the surface, the combination of mayonnaise and ketchup doesn’t seem very strange—after all, many of us probably put both on a sandwich or even on our fries. More to the point, however, many are saying that this “innovation” from Heinz is actually just a rehash of recipes that already exist. Several groups, in particular, are upset, namely Americans in Idaho and Utah for whom “fry sauce,” a regional sauce that combines ketchup and mayo, has long been a staple:
Still others are saying that the origins of the sauce come from Puerto Rico, though they have their own unique recipe.
Though it has existed in Puerto Rico for some time, the recipe may also contain other ingredients like garlic, salt and pepper. According to an article in the Washington Post, one regional food blog has even said that the condiment is “more [Puerto Rican] than the coquí [frog].”
The article also goes on to list many other countries and cultures that are taking credit for originating the sauce—including Columbians and Venezuelans.
While the new condiment may not be entirely original, it remains to be seen how popular it will be with American consumers.
In response to some of the feedback on Twitter, Heinz has even said they will consider renaming the final product before releasing it in America (other proposed names have included MayoKetchup, Fry Sauce and Ketchonnaise). If you really want to get into the debate, stop by Twitter and leave on a comment on one of Heinz’s social media streams.
Would you buy this sauce if it was on your grocery store shelf? Or would you just make it yourself at home? Tell us in the comments area below.
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