NDR - Pioneers Turned Millionaires (2010) Part 1 Henry J. Heinz Ketchup King

The legendary Levi's jeans, Heinz Tomato Ketchup, Boeing planes, precious Steinway pianos and the legendary Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York - they are all achievements from the land of opportunity. But they have another thing in common their creators emigrated from Germany to the New World. What do jeans, ketchup, planes, pianos, and furs have in common? Each is the product of an American dream come true. “Pioneers Turned Millionaires” is a five-part series that delves deep into the stories of five German entrepreneurs who redefined American economy and left a major imprint on American culture. Five visionary entrepreneurs from the old world redefined the economy of the new world and left a major imprint on American culture. Levi Strauss, Henry E. Steinway, William E. Boeing, John Jacob Astor and Henry J. Heinz changed the way the world eats, dresses, plays and travels - one can hardly ignore their names or products anywhere in the world today. Innovation, courage, persistency and hard work were the attributes that made them succeed in a strange new country. We visit the companies of Levi Strauss & Co., Steinway & Sons, Heinz and Boeing. We see how each of their founders had a novel and brilliant idea, used it to established a company and gained fame, honour and wealth. With the help of high-end reconstructions and exquisite archive material, this series presents one of the most fascinating and exciting eras of American economic history. How did these five men, who all started out as immigrants, become archetypical self-made millionaires that even now epitomize success? These biographies are the definitive portraits of these five entrepreneneurial giants businessmen who have their homeland in common and their place in history secured. They had left for economic, social, political or religious reasons but all to find a better life in the United States of America. Relive the tragedies and the triumphs that made them millions while leaving a major imprint on American culture.

Part 1 Henry J. Heinz Ketchup King

He revolutionized America's eating habits with a simple recipe for success “Do a common thing, uncommonly well.” From horseradish salesman to multi-millionaire Henry John Heinz, the son of German immigrants, forever changed the way food is packaged, sold and eaten. With simple ingredients, closely guarded family recipes, plus revolutionary branding methods, Heinz made a fortune on everyday products like gherkins, sauerkraut and, of course, his famous ketchup. Travel back in time to the Steel Capital of the World, circa the 1800s, and see how the King of Condiments began his empire, one vegetable at a time. With everyday products like pickles, sauerkraut, and the now-legendary ketchup, Henry John Heinz changed the way Americans eat—if not the world. Born in Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania) in 1844, the son of German emigrants from Kallstadt in the Rhineland-Palatinate is an attentive observer of his time. The railroad connects all of America, more and more people are flocking from the country to the cities, where a large clientele for ready meals is rapidly growing. Heinz uses all technical innovations to open up these promising markets. He becomes one of the most peculiar factory owners in the USA his employees are manicured daily, and the company provides its employees with medical care and numerous leisure activities. Henry John Heinz may not become the richest, but he is one of the most popular entrepreneurs in America with his workers and customers. The man who made ketchup what it is today had many talents. He withstood great defeats and founded a company empire that is still one of the big brands in the world today.

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