Hellmann's is owned by Unilever (the United Kingdom, LSE: ULVR), which acquired the brand on 4 October 2000 for $24.3 billion from Bestfoods.[1][2][3] Before Unilever, Hellmann's was owned by Bestfoods to 2000.[3]
Hellmann's mayonnaise was first sold from Richard Hellmann's New York delicatessen in 1913. West of the Rocky Mountains the same product is sold as Best Foods. The brand came to Unilever through the 2000 acquisition of Bestfoods.
Unilever agreed to combine its Foods business, home of Knorr and Hellmann's, with McCormick in a Reverse Morris Trust: Unilever would receive $15.7 billion in cash, and Unilever and its shareholders would own 65 per cent of the combined company with McCormick's existing holders owning 35 per cent. McCormick valued Unilever Foods at an enterprise value of about $44.8 billion. It would be the largest reshaping of Unilever since the ice cream demerger, leaving it a beauty, personal care and home care company.
Unilever acquired Bestfoods, the American food group behind Knorr and Hellmann's, in what was then the largest cash acquisition in the food industry. The European Commission cleared the deal in Phase I subject to divestiture commitments.
The European Commission cleared Unilever's acquisition of Bestfoods in Phase I on 28 September 2000 under Article 6(1)(b) with conditions and obligations, after the parties offered divestitures. The case was notified on 16 August 2000 under the then-applicable Council Regulation 4064/89.
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Frequently asked questions
Who is the parent company of Hellmann's?
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The parent company of Hellmann's is Unilever, a publicly listed company headquartered in the United Kingdom.
Is Hellmann's American or British?
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Hellmann's originated in the United States in 1913, but it is owned today by Unilever, which is headquartered in the United Kingdom. So Hellmann's is an American-origin brand under British ownership.
When did Unilever buy Hellmann's?
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Unilever completed its acquisition of Hellmann's on 4 October 2000, after announcing the deal on 6 June 2000. The deal was valued at $24.3 billion (enterprise value).
Who owned Hellmann's before Unilever?
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Before Unilever, Hellmann's was owned by Bestfoods until 2000.
Is Hellmann's still owned by Unilever?
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Yes. As of 16 September 2026, Hellmann's is still owned by Unilever. The ownership record was last checked against primary sources on that date.
Sources (5) & 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.