The largest food processing plant in Europe and the largest H. J. Heinz facility in the world is located in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The site was chosen due to its ease of access to both the UK agricultural industry, as well as the Atlantic Ocean (Liverpool Docks) and Europe via the North Sea, to allow for easy and low-cost access of both raw product and the export of manufactured processed food.
- J. Heinz varieties first went on sale in Fortnum & Mason in 1886. After World War I, Heinz started exporting Baked Beans, Spaghetti and Tomato Ketchup to the UK, and then opened its first UK production facility in Harlesden in the 1920s. During World War II this facility was bombed twice, resulting in the takeover after the war of the former munitions factory at Standish near Wigan in 1946 to allow the restart of food production. They then moved to the site at Kitt Green Orrell.
The factory celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2009, with a visit by HM Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.