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H.J. Heinz Company and its subsidiaries manufacture and market an extensive line of processed food and related products throughout the world. It is the largest prepared food supplier to the US food service market which comprises of restaurants, and other away-from-home eating places. The company’s products are organized into six core businesses: ketchup; sauces and condiments; tuna and other seafood products; infant foods; pet products; and miscellaneous other products. These core businesses supply Heinz products to a variety of consumers: Independent groceries, mass merchants, superstores, pharmacies, club stores, food service distributors and institutions like government agencies and schools. Heinz faces competition from Kraft, Unilever, Sara Lee, Campbell Soup Company, ConAgra and Dole Foods. Heinz has successfully cornered the market with its flagship brand of ketchup and packaging innovations such as the E-Z Squirt bottle. The processed food industry has outperformed the S&P 500 for the first and second quarter of 2003. Continual quality improvements and convenient packaging are key to driving this growth. Some emerging technologies that are helping Heinz maintain its market share are irradiation, oxygen scavenger