Last week I was at Wal-Mart (yep, as ugly as the American ones but terribly overpriced) and while filling my cart with some Western supplies such as Skippy peanut butter, non-sweet mayonnaise and non-sweet sandwich bread I spotted some bottles of Heinz Ketchup which had recently arrived.
Up to this point my ketchup selection was limited to Del Monte and various native brands, all of which are terrible since I'm accustomed to Heinz's magic formula. With a child-like smile I reached down and grabbed a bottle of the magic Heinz sauce. Here's where it got real.
There was a Chinese guy pondering the four other varieties of ketchup but as soon as he saw me instinctively go for the Heinz he dropped the ones he was considering and picked up the Heinz bottle! Since the Heinz ketchup is priced in the middle of the other bottles (about 7RMB) I doubt he considered it because in China price is the first-- and often only-- consideration; the more expensive something is the better it is.
As I walked away and towards the peanut butter aisle I saw him put the Heinz bottle into his cart. For a few seconds I felt really special, like an American product ambassador of sorts but his reaction was totally natural. In one of my first shopping trips in China I remember standing in front of about 30 vinegar bottles, unable to pick one. Then a guy came up beside me and went straight for his brand. "If it's good enough for him it's good enough for me" I thought and picked the same bottle. Similarly, I am certain the Chinese guy thought something like: "This foreigner was breastfed hamburgers and fries so he must know his ketchup." Well, Sir, I do know my ketchup. Now spread the word among your wealthy Chinese circle that Heinz is the best.
So in conclusion...
Heinz: you owe me some f#*@$%n money.
On a related note: All foreigners in China should get a monthly check from American and European companies for advertising their products. Even now my Western uniform consists of Puma, Levi's, Lacoste, North Face, and Esprit. I am a walking western product billboard and this free advertising must end at once. But I'll settle for some new shoes, Puma. SL
Up to this point my ketchup selection was limited to Del Monte and various native brands, all of which are terrible since I'm accustomed to Heinz's magic formula. With a child-like smile I reached down and grabbed a bottle of the magic Heinz sauce. Here's where it got real.
There was a Chinese guy pondering the four other varieties of ketchup but as soon as he saw me instinctively go for the Heinz he dropped the ones he was considering and picked up the Heinz bottle! Since the Heinz ketchup is priced in the middle of the other bottles (about 7RMB) I doubt he considered it because in China price is the first-- and often only-- consideration; the more expensive something is the better it is.
As I walked away and towards the peanut butter aisle I saw him put the Heinz bottle into his cart. For a few seconds I felt really special, like an American product ambassador of sorts but his reaction was totally natural. In one of my first shopping trips in China I remember standing in front of about 30 vinegar bottles, unable to pick one. Then a guy came up beside me and went straight for his brand. "If it's good enough for him it's good enough for me" I thought and picked the same bottle. Similarly, I am certain the Chinese guy thought something like: "This foreigner was breastfed hamburgers and fries so he must know his ketchup." Well, Sir, I do know my ketchup. Now spread the word among your wealthy Chinese circle that Heinz is the best.
So in conclusion...
Heinz: you owe me some f#*@$%n money.
On a related note: All foreigners in China should get a monthly check from American and European companies for advertising their products. Even now my Western uniform consists of Puma, Levi's, Lacoste, North Face, and Esprit. I am a walking western product billboard and this free advertising must end at once. But I'll settle for some new shoes, Puma. SL
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