Heinz Declares Quarterly Dividend

PITTSBURGH - Mar 10/04 - SNS -- The H.J. Heinz Company approved a 5.5% increase in the annual dividend on common stock for Fiscal Year 2005 from 27 cents to 28.5 cents per quarter, effective with the July 2004 dividend.

The company said based on yesterday's closing share price of $38.08, this new dividend yield would be approximately 3.0%, ranking Heinz in the top 20% of the S&P 500.

The Heinz Board of Directors also declared a quarterly dividend of 27 cents per share on the company's 25 cent par value Common Stock payable April 10, 2004 to shareholders of record the close of business on March 24, 2004.

It also set the preferred stock dividend at 42 1/2 cents per share on the company's Third Cumulative Preferred Stock, $1.70 First Series, payable April 1, 2004 to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 24, 2004.

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