The lighted Heinz Ketchup sign on the North Side is looking for a new home.

	Lake Fong, Post-Gazette The Heinz Ketchup sign on the North Side plant in a 1999 photo. Click photo for larger image. Readers Forum: Where should it go?

The Pittsburgh ketchup company said work begins today to take down the sign, which shows a bottle slowly emptying and then refilling.

Heinz unveiled the sign in 1995 as part of its 125th anniversary. In 2002, Heinz spun off several businesses to San Francisco-based Del Monte Foods Co., including the soup and baby food operations on the North Side. The deal included an arrangement to leave the sign in place for four years.

"Heinz is currently reviewing alternative locations for this iconic sign," said Michael Mullen, director of global corporate affairs for the H.J. Heinz Co. "Our intent is to keep the sign a part of the Pittsburgh skyline."

According to the company, the sign is made of steel and aluminum and stands 42.5 feet high and 32 feet wide. It refills the Heinz keystone logo every 30 seconds. The sign is to be refurbished during its time off.