Overview

This large-scale processing plant situated on a 73-acre site nearby to two other existing factories, a Holly Sugar Company mill and a Dairymaid milk plant. The plant operated until 01/30/1998, when it was shuttered.

Building History

The H.J. Heinz Company, headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, selected a 73-acre site near Tracy, CA, for a new factory in 09/1944. Heinz, founded outside of Pittburgh in 1869 had developed into a multinational corporation by 1944, selling "57 varieties" of condiments, sauces and canned goods. The Tracy Press said in its issue of 09/01/1944: "Founded in 1869 in a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pa., the business was developed and expanded into a world wide concern by H.J. Heinz who passed away in 1919. He was succeeded by his son, Howard Heinz who headed the firm until his death several years ago. Henry J. Heinz II, grandson of the founder, is now president of the company. Only a minor product today, horseradish sauce was the first Heinz product to be placed on the market."

The article triumphantly announced the news of a new plant in Tracy. The article began by saying that "...The future of post-war Tracy was given a big boost today (Thursday)....." It continued: "The 73 acre tract involved in the purchase is located directly east of the Southern Pacific spur track to the Holly Sugar mill and faces on Highway 50, opposite the Dairymaid plant. A. Duarte and Mr. and Mrs. Manuel Pasqual were the sellers. When the factory is in operation, it will provide a local market for several thousand acres of produce from the Tracy area, including tomatoes, asparagus, carrots, beets, celery, spinach, apricots, peache and pears. The list of Heinz products is a long one. Principal productts are many varieties of pickles, tomato products, including ketchup, chili sauce, soup and juice; a complete line of soups, a complete line of strained baby foods, all varieties of vinegar, oven baked beans in various styles, spaghetti, olives, peanut butter, mustard, table sauces, mayonnaise, salad dressing, and, at present, various types of food for the Armed Forces."

The new Tracy plant would join many other facilities owned by Heinz in the US and abroad in 1944: "The head office of the H.J. Heinz company is located in Pittsburgh, Penn. Branch foreign factories are located in London, England; Melbourne Australia; Seville, Spain; and Leamington, Ontario, Canada. A new Heinz factory is now under construction at Wallaceburg, Ontario. Principal branch factories in the United States are located in Salem, N.J.; Chambersburg, Penn; Modina, N.Y.; Winchester, VA; Fremont, Ohio; Bowling Green, Ohio; Muscatine, Iowa; Sagina, Mich.; Holland, Mich.; and Berkeley, Calif. Smaller plants are operated in California at Watsonville, Corning and Isleton. Warehouses and sales offices are housed in all principal cities of the world." (See "H.J. Heinz Company Selects Tracy for Site of Large Post War Factory," Tracy Press, 09/01/1944, p. 1.)

PCAD id: 25472