Kraft Heinz has way more varieties than 57 — here's why its slogan still says '57 varieties'

The slogan "57 varieties" is stamped on its bottles.

CNN Business says that the number does not represent the number of varieties.

How that renowned 57 varieties came to be is not entirely certain. CNN reported a couple of stories.

H.J. Heinz pulled the number out of thin air back in 1896, according to a biography of the Pittsburgh businessman. The number is fake, even though the company that makes the product today admits that it is.

The number 57 was found by H.J. Heinz, according to the brand director. He claimed that seven was his wife's lucky number.

According to the personal secretary of the man, he thought "57" sounded better than alternative numbers.

When the founder started using the number, he sold fewer than 57 varieties of sauces. Today, there are hundreds of varieties of the same food.

In 1900, the first electric billboard in New York City featured the "57 varieties" slogan, which became a symbol of the company. The "57 varieties" slogan appears on other products.

It is a brand asset, according to the brand director.

Over the last two years, consumers have eaten more meals at home instead of going out to eat, which has boosted the business of the company.

The Wall Street Journal reported last year that restaurants were having a hard time getting enough packets to fill take-out and delivery orders.

Private equity owner 3G Capital has aggressively downsized and cut costs despite the fact that it is a pioneer in the food industry.

Instead of developing new products, many of the innovations of the company have been the same as their predecessors, such as a bottle of mayonnaise.

Both former employees and food industry analysts told Insider last year that the constant cost-cutting and competition from more innovative start-up brands could cause the company to lose more ground with consumers.

Emily Ruby, a curator at the Sen. John Heinz History Center, told CNN that the merger of the two companies made her feel that the company is no longer tied to the history of Pittsburgh.

If the company stopped using the number, people would be upset, she said.