Hellmann's Mayonnaise

Hellmann's is the world's leading mayonnaise brand, with a legacy that began in 1905 when German immigrant Richard Hellmann opened a delicatessen in New York City. The iconic 'Blue Ribbon' label was introduced in 1912 to mark the superior quality of the recipe crafted by Richard and his wife, Margaret. Historically, the brand developed a unique dual identity in the United States: Hellmann's is sold east of the Rocky Mountains, while the identical product is branded as 'Best Foods' to the west. This occurred after the brand was acquired by Postum Foods (later Best Foods Inc.) in 1927.

Today, Hellmann's is owned by the British multinational Unilever, following its acquisition of Bestfoods in 2000. As a global power brand, it is manufactured in numerous locations worldwide to serve local markets. Production facilities are found in the United States, United Kingdom, Brazil, Spain, Germany, and Australia, among others. While the core recipe remains consistent, slight variations in oil sources (such as soybean oil in the US versus rapeseed oil in Europe) may occur to match local agricultural availability and consumer preferences.