Every once in a while I come across a piece that stops me in my tracks. This week it was a brick and blue shuttered building, quietly tucked into a larger estate collection I purchased. At first glance it looks like something that might belong in the Original Snow Village, but a closer look told a very different story. This one was created for Heinz.
This Department 56 piece is a corporate exclusive. That means it was never sold in stores, never featured in a catalogue, and never part of a regular village series. Instead, it was produced by Department 56 directly for the H. J. Heinz Company. These speciality buildings were often given as holiday gifts to employees or business partners. Some were handed out at company events, and some were used as thank you gifts. They were produced in far smaller quantities than anything sold at retail.
The envelope that came with this building was the first clue. It carries the classic Heinz Products seal and held a small card or message from the company. Pieces like this often came with a note describing the history of the building or a holiday greeting from Heinz. The inclusion of the envelope and card makes this example even more desirable because these inserts are often lost over the years.
The building itself looks like a miniature version of one of the historic Heinz administrative buildings in Pittsburgh. The design captures that early American industrial charm with red brick, blue trim, snow covered rooflines, and a symmetrical layout that feels right at home in a winter village display. Department 56 did an excellent job recreating the look of the real structure, even though this piece was never part of a larger set.
This particular example does show a bit of history. One of the chimneys was repaired at some point and has been cleanly reattached. Small glue repairs are fairly common in older pieces and this one displays well, but it does bring the value down slightly. Even so, the rarity of Heinz corporate exclusives keeps them very collectible. These cross into multiple markets. Department 56 collectors want them. Heinz memorabilia collectors want them. Advertising and Americana collectors love them as well.
Based on similar corporate exclusives and the condition of this one, a realistic value range is about one hundred and twenty to one hundred and eighty Canadian dollars. The original envelope helps. The rarity helps even more. These pieces rarely come to market and usually sell quickly when they do.
As I continue to sort through this estate, interesting finds like this remind me why I love this hobby. Every building has a story. Some were part of huge production runs that brought joy to thousands of collectors. Others, like this Heinz exclusive, were created for a small group of people and quietly made their way into the world. Finding one is like uncovering a forgotten chapter in the history of the hobby.
If you ever come across a building that looks a little different from the usual village lines, there is a good chance it has a story worth digging into. This Heinz piece is a perfect example and a very fun addition to our Rare and Hard to Find collection.