First Rounds Fired in Conservative 'Ketchup War'

By Jimmy Moore
Talon News
July 16, 2004

An unexpected ketchup war has erupted between two companies marketing alternative versions of ketchup to conservative, Republican consumers.

Talon News reported last week on W Ketchup which actively markets its product to people who "don't support Democrats."

But in an open letter, another alternative ketchup known as Bush Country Ketchup has openly challenged W Ketchup to clarify its ideological devotion.

"We can no longer allow W Ketchup to masquerade as a conservative condiment and continue to market itself to our fellow Republicans without answering several troubling questions that have come to light since its emergence in mid-June," remarked Bush Country Ketchup co-founder and volunteer press secretary for a Congressional candidate Patrick Spero, whose slogan is "Making sure Kerry won't ketchup to W."

Spero told Talon News that he was behind a petition drive to keep the controversial CBS mini-series against Ronald Reagan from reaching the air last November during sweeps week. He was also a prominent contributor to www.blogsforbush.com before founding Bush Country Ketchup.

Spero said there are several pieces of "conflicting information" on the W Ketchup web site as well as from W Ketchup founder Bill Zachary that have them "greatly concerned."

For example, Spero points out a quote from a Washington Times article last month where Zachary characterizes his political philosophy as "middle-of-the road" and claims he is "non-partisan."

"The avoidance of any expressions of support for the reelection of President Bush in Zachary's statements to the media or on W's web site spurred Bush Country Ketchup to question W's true loyalties," Spero said.

"Is W Ketchup a conservative or nonpartisan condiment? Are you (Zachary) and all of your investors Republicans? If not, isn't it disingenuous to market to conservatives and imply that you share their views?" inquired Spero.

Taking his criticism of W Ketchup one step further, Spero said Zachary merely mimicked his idea for creating a ketchup for conservatives, which he calls a "copy-ketchup."

Spero told Talon News that "the plot has thickened" with the release by W Ketchup of a radio interview with Zachary quoted as saying investors in the company are "not necessarily Kerry supporters." Spero expressed to Talon News that this is a "rather weak statement coming from a supposedly conservative condiment."

"Something definitely stinks here," commented Bush Country Ketchup co-founder and Republican Congressional staffer Chris Cylke.

While Spero and Cylke have donated money to the Bush reelection campaign as well as other conservative Republicans, they charge that W Ketchup has not.

"[T]hese self-proclaimed wealthy W Ketchup investors have not donated a penny to President Bush," Spero charged to Talon News.

Cylke said W Ketchup is nearly identical to what has been featured on the Bush Country Ketchup web site since April.

"Mr. Zachary and his 'Republican' investors have some serious explaining to do," Cylke added.

Describing W Ketchup as "a nebulous company," Spero said their rival company has more in common with the campaign of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John F. Kerry (D-MA) than President George W. Bush.

"Our mission is clear -- the reelection of President Bush and the success of the Republican Party," boasted Spero about Bush Country Ketchup. "W Ketchup appears to be trying to have it every which way, engaging in Kerry-esque flip-flopping and capitalizing on conservatives' affectionate use of President Bush's middle initial. At the same time they claim any connection with President Bush or the Republican Party is pure serendipity."

Noting that he is "not in this for money," Spero told Talon News that he is "truly afraid that good conservatives may be taken advantage of by W Ketchup, possible liberals who are enjoying a good laugh at the expense of trusting conservatives."

Questioning W Ketchup's support for Bush, Spero asks why the president is not even mentioned on the company's web site.

"Do you and your investors in fact support President Bush and his reelection?" Spero questioned.

Spero and Cylke, self-proclaimed "unabashed conservatives who fully support President Bush and actively contribute to Republican causes," said they introduced Bush Country Ketchup in April to offer "a gourmet alternative to Heinz ketchup -- the food giant from which Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry's wife Teresa Heinz inherited her enormous wealth."

Noting the many grassroots GOP partnerships that have been formed between their company and local Republican groups, Spero and Cylke said their product has been a "powerful fundraising tool" and is currently being "served in restaurants around the country."

In fact, Spero told Talon News that they have donated their product to Republican groups, often at cost, as a fundraising item and can cite these groups. They assert that W Ketchup does not do this to help Republican causes.

"While we respect W Ketchup's donation to the Freedom Alliance, they donate only 5%, taking 95% of the profit for themselves," Spero explained. "We, on the other hand, regularly donate 15% of our gross to Republican Town Committees that allow us to sell our ketchup in person at their events and discount our ketchup for any Republican group or candidate looking to spread the President's message or raise funds."

However, they contend W Ketchup is "just interested in making a quick buck by saying the right things to the 'right.'"

The Bush Country Ketchup founders concluded about W Ketchup, "We believe your customers and the marketplace deserve an answer to these discrepancies."

Although their ketchup costs a little more than W Ketchup, Spero invites people to "judge for themselves which ketchup is truly conservative and dedicated to the President."

When Talon News spoke with W Ketchup Founder and CEO Daniel Oliver on Thursday about these charges, he said there is little reason to question the political devotion of the investors.

"W Ketchup was started by a group of friends who support the Republican Party and the conservative movement, and we believe that reelecting President Bush is essential to the safety of this great nation," Oliver told Talon News.

Oliver said W Ketchup launched nationwide on June 11 and "the response has been overwhelming," with appearances on ABC's Good Morning America, Fox News, and CNN as well as featured stories in newspapers across the country.

"When we started this venture, we had no idea how many of our initial inventory of 48,000 bottles would sell," Oliver continued. "But we sold out in less than a month, and sales have only increased since then. The support we've received from across the country has been truly gratifying."

Attempting to address the specific charge by Bush Country Ketchup that it did not support Bush or Republicans, Oliver offered the paradoxical answer that he wanted W Ketchup to "be Republican but not partisan, having a positive message all Americans could agree on."

Oliver said Heinz donates 4 percent of their profits to "Teresa Heinz Kerry and her liberal causes" while W Ketchup allocates 5 percent of their profits to the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund, which Oliver said is "a cause all Americans should support."

Incidentally, Bush Country Ketchup costs $5.99 per bottle plus shipping compared with W Ketchup which costs $3.00 per bottle with a minimum order of 4 bottles plus shipping.

The purpose of W Ketchup, Oliver explains, is to "take market share from Heinz."

"For too long companies that support or are identified with conservative policies have paid a political and economic price, whereas those supporting liberal causes have had a free ride," Oliver commented to Talon News. "We think our product and advertising campaign can help highlight this double standard."

As for the competition from another alternative ketchup to Heinz, Oliver said he welcomes the challenge because it shows "America at its best."

"Given the huge number of Americans who don't want to support Kerry/Heinz with their condiment selection, the more choices, the better," Oliver stated. "Hopefully with our combined efforts, we can ensure that in November, Teresa Heinz Kerry's G-5, the 'Flying Squirrel,' lands in the People's Republic of Taxachusetts, and not Andrews Air Force Base."