A self-heating container comprises an outer casing (56) having a bottom wall (60) an inner casing (64) secured within the outer casing and a heat-generating material (72) contained in the inner casing. The container includes also a vertical shaft (38) journalled within the inner casing and having a lower end extending out of the bottom wall of the outer casing, a sparking wheel (36) having an abrasive surface and secured to the shaft adjacent the heat-generating material and a flint (40) supported by the inner casing and pressed against the abrasive surface to generate sparks when the wheel is caused to rotate. A horizontal shaft (82) is journalled to the outer casing and adapted to be rotated, and gear means (78,80) couples the vertical shaft (38) and the horizontal shaft (82).