Maille (company) facts for kids

Maille is a famous brand that makes tasty condiments. It started in Marseille, France, way back in 1723. Back then, it was a company that made vinegar. Today, Maille is part of a big company called Unilever. They make Maille mustard all over the world. They also sell cornichons (small pickles), special jars, salad dressings, kitchen gifts, and cooking oil. You can find Maille products in their own stores, in other shops, and online.

Maille also has special shops called Maison Maille. You can find these shops in cities like Dijon, London, New York City, Paris, and Bordeaux. In these shops, they sell traditional dijon mustard and many different flavors.

Maille's Story Through Time

How Maille Began

The Maille story began in 1723 in Marseille, France. A man named Antoine-Claude Maille was a vinegar maker. His father, also named Antoine-Claude, became well-known in the 1720s. He suggested using vinegar to help treat the plague.

In 1747, the younger Antoine-Claude Maille opened his own shop. It was called La Maison Maille and was in Paris. He became a supplier to the royal court of King Louis XV.

Serving Royalty Across Europe

Maille's fame grew quickly. In 1760, Maille became the official vinegar supplier. They supplied the royal courts of Austria and Hungary. Later, in 1769, King Louis XVI of France gave him a special license. This made him an "ordinary distiller-vinegar-maker." Just two years later, he received another special permission. This time, he became the distiller-vinegar-maker for Empress Catherine II of Russia.

New Owners and Growth

Antoine-Claude Maille sold his business in 1800. He sold it to his business partner, André-Arnoult Acloque. Maille himself passed away in 1804.

Later, in 1819, Maille's son Robert joined forces with Acloque's son, Andre-Gabriel. They became business partners. They were appointed distillers to the King. They were also the only suppliers to the house of King Louis XVIII in 1821. Maille continued to serve royalty. They became vinegar-makers for Charles X in 1826. They also supplied the King of England in 1830. And they supplied King Louis-Philippe in 1836. A Maille shop opened in the Burgundy region in 1845.

New Eras and Famous Slogans

In 1885, a company called Grey-Poupon bought Maille. Then, in 1930, a businessman named Baron Philippe de Rothschild bought Maille.

In 1931, Maille created its famous slogan. It was Que Maille qui m’aille. This means "Maille alone suits me." In 1936, the brand advertised itself in a unique way. They spelled out 'MAILLE' in lights on rooftops in Paris. This scene was even shown in a cinema advertisement. These fun campaigns stopped when World War II began.

Joining Forces and Modern Times

In 1952, Rothschild sold the brand. It was bought by André Ricard and Joseph Poupon. Maille and Grey Poupon then worked together. They started selling their products in supermarkets.

The company began making Maille whisky glasses in 1988. A year later, they launched their special Fleur de Lys jar. They started selling balsamic vinegar in 1991.

In 1996, Maille celebrated a big birthday. It was their 250th anniversary! To celebrate, they opened a new shop in Paris. This shop sells packaged mustards, oils, and vinegars. It also sells mustard fresh from a pump.

Maille was sold to another company in 1997. Then, in 2000, Unilever bought Maille. In 2011, the company introduced new products. These included a Dijon mustard with Chablis wine and a black truffle mustard.

Maille Products

Dijon Mustard

In 1937, Dijon mustard received a special status. This status means there are rules for how it must be made. This ensures it can be called a true Dijon mustard.

Other Flavors and Special Editions

Maille also makes condiments using many other ingredients. These include flavors like mango, red berries, tarragon, and Cognac.

In 1996, Maille introduced special mustards. These were limited-edition flavors. They were served fresh from porcelain pumps. Each one had a special ingredient, like Chablis wine. They even had a black truffle and Chablis mustard. These were served in special sandstone jars.