HJ Heinz has reported a 15 per cent increase in second quarter earnings per share. The giant US food company, headed by Dr AJ O'Reilly, also reported a 13.4 per cent increase in net income to $201 million (£150 million). The result exclude the costs of Project Millenia, the company's reorganisation and growth plan which is deigned to ensure earnings growth of 10 or 12 per cent in the next century. According to Dr O'Reilly, who is due to step down as chief executive in April, Heinz is now on track to produce excellent results at the end of the year.