Brandtree

Who owns French's?

French's is owned by McCormick (the United States, NYSE: MKC), which acquired the brand on 17 August 2017 from Reckitt.[1][2] Before McCormick, French's was owned by Reckitt from 1999 to 2017.[2]

Key facts

Current owner
McCormick & Company, Incorporated verified
Owned since
· deal details
Acquisition price
$4.2 billion (enterprise value)
Previous owner
Reckitt (1999–2017)
Owner HQ
🇺🇸 United States, Hunt Valley, Maryland
Origin
🇺🇸 United States, Rochester, New York
Founded
1904
Category
FoodCondiments, sauces & seasoningsSpices & seasonings
Parent ticker
NYSE: MKC
Last verified
· 2 sources

About French's

French's introduced its bright yellow mustard at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, served on a hot dog, and the pairing has held ever since. McCormick acquired the brand from Reckitt Benckiser in 2017 for $4.2 billion, its largest acquisition.

Ownership timeline of French's

Owners of French's from 1999 to 2026 Reckitt 1999–2017; McCormick 2017–present Reckitt McCormick 200020052010201520202025
  1. 1999 – 2017 Reckitt sold 17 August 2017 [2] verified Inherited through Reckitt & Colman, whose food business Reckitt Benckiser later sold.
  2. 2017 – present McCormick acquired 17 August 2017 [1][2] verified

Where French's sits in McCormick

Controlling ownership as of . Brands grouped under the entity that owns them; large groups are collapsed.

Where French's sits in McCormick Tree of 8 brands under McCormick. McCormick French's Cholula Frank's RedHot Lawry's McCormick Old Bay and 2 more

Open the full McCormick ownership tree →

Other brands owned by McCormick in food

See the full McCormick brand portfolio (8) →

Deals involving French's

Divestiture closed

McCormick acquires French's and Frank's RedHot

McCormick bought French's mustard and Frank's RedHot from Reckitt Benckiser, which had inherited the food business through Reckitt & Colman and was selling it to fund its purchase of Mead Johnson. It was McCormick's largest acquisition.

Value
$4.2bn
Seller
Reckitt
Regulatory
None recorded

Latest news about French's

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Frequently asked questions

Who is the parent company of French's?

The parent company of French's is McCormick, a publicly listed company headquartered in the United States.

Is French's American?

Yes. French's originated in the United States in 1904 and its owner, McCormick, is also headquartered in the United States.

When did McCormick buy French's?

McCormick completed its acquisition of French's on 17 August 2017, after announcing the deal on 19 July 2017.

Who owned French's before McCormick?

Before McCormick, French's was owned by Reckitt from 1999 until 2017.

Is French's still owned by McCormick?

Yes. As of 6 September 2026, French's is still owned by McCormick. The ownership record was last checked against primary sources on that date.

Sources (2) & corrections

Last verified . Every ownership fact above is backed by one of these primary documents. Numbers in brackets in the text refer to this list.

  1. [1] McCormick & Company, Incorporated Annual Report on Form 10-K filed 2026-01-22 — SEC EDGAR, SEC Form 10-K, published 22 January 2026; retrieved 6 September 2026.
  2. [2] McCormick & Company Annual Report on Form 10-K — SEC EDGAR, SEC Form 10-K; retrieved 6 September 2026.

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