#HeritageMonth | Heritage meets heritage: 125 braais become one

Heinz marked its arrival in South African braai culture with a Heritage Day celebration in Johannesburg, bringing people together around the fire for a proudly South African day of food, music, art and togetherness (Image supplied)

For one big day in Johannesburg, Heinz didn't simply put its sauce on the braai. Heinz became part of the braai.

It saw 125 braais become one Heinz Keystone label, and ketchup became paint as more than 2,000 strangers became one Heritage Day celebration.

From the ground, 125 braais became 125 places for South Africans to gather, cook, eat and connect. From the sky, they formed the Heinz label, one enormous symbol of Heinz finding its place in Mzansi.

Rather than telling South Africans how to braai, Heinz, a food brand with over 150 years of heritage, brought its own taste to the table and let South Africans decide for themselves.

#HeritageMonth | 100 braais to create Heinz emblem

21 Sep 2026

"Heritage Day is about honouring where we come from," says Passant El-Ghannam, CMO Middle East & Africa, Kraft Heinz.

"Heinz has spent over 150 years joining family tables around the world and seeing that heritage meet South Africa's around 125 fires was deeply moving. We didn't come to tell South Africans how to braai.

We came to earn our place at the table, and today Mzansi made room for us."

Heinz partnered with South African artist, Ricollin to paint a tribute to South African heritage in Heinz Tomato Ketchup (image supplied)

Two heritages meet on a single canvas

As part of the celebration, Heinz partnered with South African artist Ricollin to paint a tribute to South African heritage in Heinz Tomato Ketchup.

Working live, Ricollin brought together symbols of South Africa, its people, food, and culture, around the Heinz bottle as guests watched two heritages meet on a single canvas.