In 2000, Heinz shocked customers by launching ketchup in unnatural colors like blue, green, and purple. It seemed fun—until it wasn't.

Heinz launched its iconic red ketchup in 1876. For decades, it was the gold standard of the condiment world.

Marketers feared ketchup was becoming stale. To spice things up, Heinz took a leap into the world of visual novelty.

Heinz launched EZ Squirt ketchup with fun names and kid-friendly colors like Blastin’ Green and Funky Purple.

Heinz redesigned the bottle to be ergonomic for small hands, making it easier and more fun for kids to use.

Heinz partnered with popular characters like Shrek to boost appeal, tapping into the power of children's media.

Despite added vitamin C, parents became wary of synthetic dyes and artificial ingredients used in the ketchup.

Children quickly lost interest in the novelty, and parents reverted to buying traditional red ketchup.

After initial success, sales stagnated. Heinz pulled the plug on EZ Squirt in 2006.

Despite the colored misstep, Heinz’s classic red ketchup continues to dominate the global market.

Heinz’s colored ketchup shows how brand trust and product identity matter more than novelty.

This is just the beginning. Stay tuned for more stories about marketing misfires and product flops.