The McDonald's and Heinz Break-up

Did you hear about the latest company break-up….which looks more like a jealous lover is in play in a relationship versus your typical corporate news. 

McDonald's is severing its 40 year relationship with Heinz ketchup because the new CEO of Heinz was a former CEO of Burger King!

This appears to be all there is to the story….

This news item may upset a few folks - given the dominance of Heinz in the ketchup market…..who's #2?  Hunts? Del Monte? 

….but you shouldn't fret too much about it….unless maybe you live in Europe!

Apparently, McDonald's USA uses Heinz ketchup now ONLY in its Pittsburgh (hometown of Heinz of course) and Minneapolis (not sure of the connection here to Heinz) restaurants….all of the other McDonald's restaurants in the US use private label. 

I can't confirm where McDonald's Canada sources its ketchup from - itmay be more from Heinz than anywhere else - as there is a large ketchup plant in Leamington, Ontario (near Detroit) 

Is ketchup a distinguishable food or a commodity? 

Can people taste the difference between name brand ketchup and private label? 

Ketchup is one of those products where I'm not even sure if I know the difference or would be able to detect a difference - I happen to buy only Heinz in the grocery store - but often consume ketchup outside the home, say on a  hot dog at a ball park, for example - in that situation - who can focus on critiquing ketchup? 

It will be interesting to see the fall-out from this - for example, will Burger King now ONLY use Heinz ketchup in "retaliation"? 

Only time will tell.