French's facts for kids
 |
|
| Type | Mustard, condiments, food items |
|---|---|
| Owner | McCormick & Company |
| Country | Rochester, New York United States |
| Introduced | 1904 |
| Markets | Worldwide |
| Previous owners | R.T. French Company Reckitt Benckiser |
French's is a well-known American brand that makes mustard, sauces, and other food items. It was started by Robert Timothy French. The famous French's "Cream Salad Brand" mustard was first shown to the public at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. By 1921, French's Mustard had its special flag logo and began advertising to everyone. Today, French's is owned by a company called McCormick & Company.
Contents
The Story of French's
The French brothers, Robert and George, bought a flour mill in 1883 in Fairport, New York. After their mill burned down in 1884, they moved it to Rochester, New York. They named their business the R.T. French Company. Robert French passed away in 1893, and his brother George became the company's leader.
George, who helped create the creamy yellow mustard, and another brother, Francis, introduced French's mustard in 1904.
In 1926, French's was sold to a company from the United Kingdom called J. & J. Colman. This company made many different products, including their own mustard and other items like Frank's RedHot sauce.
Later, in 1928, a new company called Atlantis Sales Corporation was created. It was a part of R. T. French and helped sell and deliver French's products.
French's also bought other companies over the years. In 1965, they started a new line of "Cattlemen’s" barbecue sauce. To launch it, a horse-drawn "chuck wagon" traveled from Buffalo, New York, to New York City and then to Philadelphia.
In 1986, the company that owned French's, Reckitt & Colman, bought Durkee Famous Foods. This is how Durkee's French onions became the popular French's crispy fried onions we know today.
In 1999, Reckitt & Colman joined with another company to form Reckitt Benckiser. Then, in 2017, McCormick & Company bought French's from Reckitt Benckiser.
For many years, a made-up person named "Carol French" was the face of the company. Her name was on many recipes and cookbooks, like Dining Delights from 1948.
Where French's Has Been Located
Until 1987, the main office for French's was in Rochester, New York. Now, the main office is in Chester, New Jersey. When French's was very popular in Rochester, they often sponsored the local weather forecasts on TV. They also supported the Rochester Red Wings baseball team, often with a local hot dog brand called Zweigle's. The old headquarters building at 1 Mustard Street is now used for different offices.
French's also had factories in other places, like Shelley, Idaho, for potato products. A factory in Souderton, Pennsylvania, was built in 1957 but closed in the 1990s. Another factory in Fresno, California, closed in 1994. Now, most of their manufacturing is done in Springfield, Missouri.
What Products French's Makes
In the past, R. T. French made many different things. These included spices, sauces, instant potato products, and even pet care items like bird seeds.
As of 2016, French's sells many products in different places. These include various mustards, Worcestershire sauce, mayonnaise-based products, ketchup, barbecue sauce, potato sticks, and fried jalapeños. They are also famous for their line of French's fried onions.
See also
