Who Owns Hellmann's?
Hellmann's is owned by Unilever, a British-Dutch multinational consumer goods corporation. Founded in 1913 by Richard Hellmann in New York, the brand was acquired by Unilever in 2000 when Unilever purchased Best Foods. Hellmann's is sold east of the Rocky Mountains, while the same product is marketed as Best Foods in the western United States.
Parent Company
Unilever plc
Acquired
2000
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
New York, New York, USA
Who Owns Hellmann's?
- Parent Company: Unilever plc
- Ownership Type: Wholly owned
- Acquisition Year: 2000
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock Ticker: LSE: ULVR
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Hellmann's | Unilever plc | Wholly owned |
History of Hellmann's
- Founded: 1913
- Founders: Richard Hellmann
- Acquired by Unilever plc: 2000
Hellmann's was founded in 1913 by Richard Hellmann, a German immigrant who came to New York City in 1903 from Vetschau, Germany. This founding vision demonstrated exceptional insight into the growing demand for food beverage solutions while establishing a distinctive approach that would define the food beverage category for generations. Hellmann opened his own delicatessen at 490 Columbus Avenue in New York in 1905, where he developed his first ready-made mayonnaise. This strategic positioning demonstrated Hellmann's's exceptional ability to create differentiated food beverage solutions while maintaining consistent brand positioning and quality standards that would define the brand for decades.
The mayonnaise became so popular with customers that Hellmann began selling it in bulk to other stores. This period of excellence demonstrated Hellmann's's exceptional ability to scale operations while maintaining consistent brand positioning and quality standards across multiple food beverage segments. In 1913, after continued success, he built a factory to produce his mayonnaise in greater quantities and began selling it on September 1 under the name "Hellmann's Blue Ribbon Mayonnaise." This strategic diversification demonstrated Hellmann's's exceptional ability to serve multiple consumer segments while maintaining its core brand identity and market leadership in the food beverage industry.
The brand's distinctive blue ribbon logo became a trademark in 1914, symbolizing quality and excellence. This continued evolution demonstrated Hellmann's's exceptional ability to maintain market relevance while adapting to changing food beverage requirements and consumer preferences. Hellmann's mayonnaise gained significant recognition in 1920 when the New York Tribune asked three chefs to rate commercial salad dressing brands, and they voted Hellmann's the best, noting its higher oil content (85%) compared to competitors. This continued excellence demonstrates Hellmann's's exceptional ability to maintain market leadership while adapting to changing food beverage dynamics and regulatory requirements. This strategic integration demonstrated Hellmann's's exceptional ability to integrate into larger food corporations while maintaining its core brand identity and cultural significance in the condiment industry.
While Hellmann's thrived on the East Coast, Best Foods Mayonnaise became popular on the West Coast. This continued evolution demonstrated Hellmann's's exceptional ability to maintain market relevance while adapting to changing food beverage requirements and corporate dynamics. In August 1927, Postum Foods (later Best Foods) acquired the Hellmann's brand, allowing Richard Hellmann to retire. The company wisely preserved both brands and their respective regional market positions. This strategic partnership demonstrated Hellmann's's exceptional ability to leverage corporate resources while maintaining its distinct food beverage identity and market leadership.
In 2000, Unilever acquired Best Foods, bringing both Hellmann's and Best Foods into its portfolio. This continued evolution demonstrated Hellmann's's exceptional ability to maintain market relevance while adapting to changing food beverage requirements and technological advancements. To this day, Hellmann's is sold east of the Rocky Mountains, while the same product is marketed as Best Foods west of the Rockies. This continued success represents a significant milestone in the evolution of condiments and consumer-focused food solutions.
About Unilever plc
What does Unilever own?
Unilever owns a portfolio of over 400 brands across four business groups: Beauty and Wellbeing (Dove, Vaseline, TRESemme, Pond's), Personal Care (Axe/Lynx, Rexona/Sure, Lux, Lifebuoy, Close Up), Home Care (Domestos, Cif, Surf, Omo, Comfort), and Nutrition (Knorr, Hellmann's, Lipton, Marmite). Following the 2025 demerger of its Ice Cream business, Unilever no longer owns Magnum, Walls, Ben & Jerry's, or Breyers. The company also owns approximately 61% of Hindustan Unilever Limited, a publicly listed subsidiary in India.
Is Unilever publicly traded?
Yes, Unilever plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange under ticker ULVR and on Euronext Amsterdam under ticker UNA. American Depositary Receipts are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker UL. The company does not have a controlling shareholder, and its shares are held primarily by institutional investors. Unilever simplified its dual-listed structure in 2020, consolidating its legal headquarters in the United Kingdom.
Who founded Unilever?
Unilever was formed in 1929 through the merger of Lever Brothers, a British soap company founded by William Hesketh Lever in 1885, and Margarine Unie, a Dutch margarine producer formed through the merger of the Jurgens and Van den Bergh companies in 1927. The founders of the predecessor companies include William Lever, James Darcy Lever, Antonius Johannes Jurgens, and Samuel van den Bergh.
Where is Unilever headquartered?
Unilever is headquartered in London, United Kingdom. The company's registered office and principal executive offices are located in London. Unilever simplified its dual-listed structure in 2020, consolidating its legal headquarters in the United Kingdom and ending the separate Unilever N.V. Dutch entity. The company's shares continue to trade on both the London Stock Exchange and Euronext Amsterdam.
How many brands does Unilever own?
Unilever owns a portfolio of over 400 brands across four business groups: Beauty and Wellbeing, Personal Care, Home Care, and Nutrition. The company's largest brands by revenue include Dove, Hellmann's, Knorr, Axe/Lynx, Rexona/Sure, Lipton, Vaseline, Domestos, and Cif. Following the 2025 demerger of its Ice Cream business, Unilever's portfolio no longer includes ice cream brands such as Magnum, Walls, Ben & Jerry's, and Breyers.
Who owns Unilever?
Unilever plc is a publicly traded company with no controlling shareholder. The company's shares are held primarily by institutional investors including major asset managers and index funds. No single shareholder holds a majority stake in Unilever. Fernando Fernandez serves as CEO, having been appointed in March 2025 following the departure of Hein Schumacher. The company's board includes a majority of independent non-executive directors.
- Founded: 1929
- Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock: LSE: ULVR
Where Is Hellmann's Made / Based?
- Headquarters: New York, New York, USA
- Manufacturing / Operations: United States, Global Unilever facilities
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Hellmann's Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Iconic American brand heritage backed by Unilever's extensive R&D investment
- +Market leadership in mayonnaise and condiments category
- +Strong distribution through Unilever's established retail channels
- +Continuous innovation in condiment formulations and packaging
- +Premium quality assurance supported by corporate resources and traditional recipes
Considerations
- -Premium pricing compared to store-brand alternatives
- -Regional brand division (Hellmann's/Best Foods) can create marketing complexity
- -Dependency on Unilever's supply chain and corporate policies
- -Competition from private label brands in the condiment market
- -Health concerns regarding mayonnaise's fat content affecting some consumers
Frequently Asked Questions About Hellmann's
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Hellmann's on AmazonCompetitors to Hellmann's
No direct competitors found in the same category. This could be because Hellmann'soperates in a unique market segment or we're still building our competitor database.
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