Henry John Heinz was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to German immigrant parents, John Henry Heinz and Anna Margaretha Schmidt. His upbringing instilled strong work ethic and religious values, fundamental aspects of his character and later business practices.

Even as a child, Heinz showed signs of entrepreneurial talent. At age nine, he began selling produce from his family's garden door-to-door. By age twelve, he had his own horse and wagon to expand his distribution.

During his teenage years, Heinz continued to expand his business interests. He assisted in the family's brick-making business and cultivated a large garden where he grew and sold vegetables. This period allowed him to experiment with different farming and business practices.

At the age of 25, Henry J. Heinz partnered with Clarence Noble to form Heinz & Noble. The company, based in Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania, focused on packing and selling horseradish. This marked Heinz's first major foray into the food processing industry.