Kraft-Unilever: Heinz boss insulted Britain’s women and “terrible” food

The man who could lead the world’s largest food company once branded British food “terrible” and said the country’s women are unattractive.

Bernardo Hees – the chief executive of Kraft Heinz which is bidding to merge with Marmite owner Unilever – had to apologise on making the remarks to American students in 2011.

On recounting his youth studying for an MBA at the University of Warwick to an audience in Chicago, he said: "The food is terrible and the women are not very attractive. Here in Chicago, the food is good and you are known for your good-looking women."

Hees was then global boss of Burger King. The fast food chain said at the time: "Mr Hees apologises if his comment has offended anyone. It... was intended as a humorous anecdote to connect with his audience."

The 43-year-old was a railway executive in his native Brazil before finding his way to food, first as chief executive of Burger King and then as Heinz boss.

He arrived in 2013 at the ketchup and baked bean maker prior to its merger with Kraft, closed factories and consolidated offices, cutting thousands of jobs in an attempt to boost profits.

Kraft today confirmed that it approached Unilever about a deal, but the Anglo-Dutch group rejected the initial proposal.

Hees would likely be in the running to lead the combined group.

He sits on the company’s leadership team below the main board, which features chairman Alexandre Behring and investment sage Warren Buffett.

A deal would bring together Unilever's brands including Marmite and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream with Kraft’s Heinz baked beans and tomato ketchup.

Unilever said the offer from Kraft Heinz – at $49.61 a share, an 18% premium to yesterday’s close – has “no merit”.

Shares in Unilever jumped 12.6% to 3766.5p, valuing it at £113 million.