Heinz has announced it will not be renaming Salad Cream after it received huge backlash from the public.
The name of the popular condiment was set to be renamed Sandwich Cream as part of a rebrand, as Heinz said it no longer ‘fairly represents’ how most people use it.
In a video released yesterday, Heinz chiefs admitted they were wrong.
Heinz initially had plans to rename Salad Cream to Sandwich Cream, but have now decided against the rebrand
In the tongue-in-cheek clip, Heinz’s apparent head of feedback, Jenny Lettuce, apologsised for the mistake.
She said: ‘We can’t ignore the will of the people after all. Salad Cream is here to stay’ – before she then takes a bite out of a sandwich.
She is also seen demonstrating a number of other bizarre uses for the cream.
Lettuce then claimed the cream is an ‘essential part of my skincare routine for years’, rubbing the sauce into her face.
The clip finishes: ‘You spoke. We listened. Thank you.’
When Heinz were weighing up their decision to change the name, they said that only 14 per cent of buyer’s dress salads with the sauce, as it’s now much more popular to use it as an accompaniment to tuna, ham or cheese in sandwiches as an alternative to mayonnaise.
Parent group Kraft Heinz said it was working with brand design specialists Jones Knowles Ritchie on overhauling one of Britain’s longest running kitchen staples, which launched in 1914.
A spokesman for Heinz told trade journal The Grocer the name no longer ‘fairly represents the product’s ingredients or usage occasions’.
According to The Grocer, it is considering the name ‘Sandwich Cream’ to represent its appeal to ‘younger shoppers.’
UK sales of the brand dipped 5.4 per cent to £28.8 million last year.
Heinz Salad Cream was first launched in 1914 but could now change its name for the first time to Sandwich Cream
The Heinz spokesman added: ‘As a market leading business, Kraft Heinz continues to audit its portfolio in order to meet the needs of consumers.
‘There are consumers now who haven’t grown up with the brand in the household and just don’t know about the iconic zingy flavour or what to eat it with.’
The consultation process means the earliest a new name will be introduced is in September.
In 1999, it was revealed that Heinz were about to ditch the brand but once the leak was published it led to a major protest by shoppers and it saved the brand.
The publicity helped sales and Heinz took advantage by relaunching Salad Cream in new-look packs and putting the price up.