Grey Poupon
Encyclopedia
Grey Poupon is a brand of Dijon mustard in the U.S.
The brand
of Dijon
-style mustard
was originally owned and marketed in the U.S. by the Heublein Company and now owned and manufactured by Kraft Foods
. Like other Dijon mustards, Grey Poupon contains a small amount of white wine. It is made with brown mustard seed
grown in Canada
. The wine used is produced in upstate New York
under the supervision of a rabbi
, to ensure that the product maintains its kosher status. Grey Poupon became a popular mustard in the late 1970s and 1980s as American tastes broadened from conventional American yellow mustards.
, France
, when Maurice Grey met his associate, Auguste Poupon, a partner in what had hitherto been the Maison de Grey.
In 1970, the directors of Grey Poupon and of another Dijon mustard firm, André Ricard, having earlier bought the popular Maille-label, formed a conglomerate called S.E.G.M.A. Maille
. Soon afterwards, the new company decided to phase out the Grey Poupon label in France
. It is still, however, manufactured for export, and a small amount continues to be produced for sale at the historic Maille-Grey-Poupon boutique on the Rue de la Liberté in Dijon
itself. In 1946 the Heublein Company
bought the American rights from the original company. Heublein was acquired by R. J. Reynolds in 1982, which merged with Nabisco
in 1985 to form RJR Nabisco
. In 1999, Kraft Foods
acquired Nabisco, including the Grey Poupon brand.
pulls up alongside another Rolls Royce, and a passenger in one (Ian Richardson
) asks a passenger in the other, (Paul Eddington
) "Pardon me, would you have any Grey Poupon?" The other responds, "But of course!" The closing shot is of the Grey Poupon jar being passed between the vehicles. This commercial has been parodied in many films and TV shows including the 1992 movie Wayne's World
and Family Guy's Blue Harvest
.
In 2007, Grey Poupon/Kraft company introduced three new specialty mustards: a coarse ground mustard, with whole mustard seeds; a spicy brown mustard, with diced yellow onion
s; and a honey
mustard, with clover honey and spices.
The brand
Brand
The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...
of Dijon
Dijon
Dijon is a city in eastern France, the capital of the Côte-d'Or département and of the Burgundy region.Dijon is the historical capital of the region of Burgundy. Population : 151,576 within the city limits; 250,516 for the greater Dijon area....
-style mustard
Mustard (condiment)
Mustard is a condiment made from the seeds of a mustard plant...
was originally owned and marketed in the U.S. by the Heublein Company and now owned and manufactured by Kraft Foods
Kraft Foods
Kraft Foods Inc. is an American confectionery, food and beverage conglomerate. It markets many brands in more than 170 countries. 12 of its brands annually earn more than $1 billion worldwide: Cadbury, Jacobs, Kraft, LU, Maxwell House, Milka, Nabisco, Oscar Mayer, Philadelphia, Trident, Tang...
. Like other Dijon mustards, Grey Poupon contains a small amount of white wine. It is made with brown mustard seed
Mustard seed
Mustard seeds are the small round seeds of various mustard plants. The seeds are usually about 1 or 2 mm in diameter. Mustard seeds may be colored from yellowish white to black. They are important spices in many regional foods. The seeds can come from three different plants: black mustard , brown...
grown in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The wine used is produced in upstate New York
Upstate New York
Upstate New York is the region of the U.S. state of New York that is located north of the core of the New York metropolitan area.-Definition:There is no clear or official boundary between Upstate New York and Downstate New York...
under the supervision of a rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
, to ensure that the product maintains its kosher status. Grey Poupon became a popular mustard in the late 1970s and 1980s as American tastes broadened from conventional American yellow mustards.
History
Grey Poupon was first made in 1777 in DijonDijon
Dijon is a city in eastern France, the capital of the Côte-d'Or département and of the Burgundy region.Dijon is the historical capital of the region of Burgundy. Population : 151,576 within the city limits; 250,516 for the greater Dijon area....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, when Maurice Grey met his associate, Auguste Poupon, a partner in what had hitherto been the Maison de Grey.
In 1970, the directors of Grey Poupon and of another Dijon mustard firm, André Ricard, having earlier bought the popular Maille-label, formed a conglomerate called S.E.G.M.A. Maille
Maille (company)
Maille is a French mustard and pickle company. Founded in 1747, it is famous for its Dijon mustard and cornichon. The company traces its roots to Antoine Claude Maille. In 1720 Maille developed new forms of vinegar to help stop the ongoing plague engulfing the south of France...
. Soon afterwards, the new company decided to phase out the Grey Poupon label in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. It is still, however, manufactured for export, and a small amount continues to be produced for sale at the historic Maille-Grey-Poupon boutique on the Rue de la Liberté in Dijon
Dijon
Dijon is a city in eastern France, the capital of the Côte-d'Or département and of the Burgundy region.Dijon is the historical capital of the region of Burgundy. Population : 151,576 within the city limits; 250,516 for the greater Dijon area....
itself. In 1946 the Heublein Company
Heublein
Heublein Inc. was an American producer and distributor of alcoholic beverages and food throughout the 20th century...
bought the American rights from the original company. Heublein was acquired by R. J. Reynolds in 1982, which merged with Nabisco
Nabisco
Nabisco is an American brand of cookies and snacks. Headquartered in East Hanover, New Jersey, the company is a subsidiary of Illinois-based Kraft Foods. Nabisco's plant in Chicago, a production facility at 7300 S...
in 1985 to form RJR Nabisco
RJR Nabisco
RJR Nabisco, Inc., was an American conglomerate formed in 1985 by the merger of Nabisco Brands and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. RJR Nabisco was purchased in 1988 by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co...
. In 1999, Kraft Foods
Kraft Foods
Kraft Foods Inc. is an American confectionery, food and beverage conglomerate. It markets many brands in more than 170 countries. 12 of its brands annually earn more than $1 billion worldwide: Cadbury, Jacobs, Kraft, LU, Maxwell House, Milka, Nabisco, Oscar Mayer, Philadelphia, Trident, Tang...
acquired Nabisco, including the Grey Poupon brand.
Marketing
Heublein increased the visibility and name recognition of their mustard brand with a 1980s commercial in which a Rolls RoyceRolls-Royce (car)
This a list of Rolls-Royce motor cars and includes vehicles produced by:*Rolls-Royce Limited *Rolls-Royce Motors , which was owned by Vickers between 1980 and 1998, and after that by Volkswagen...
pulls up alongside another Rolls Royce, and a passenger in one (Ian Richardson
Ian Richardson
Ian William Richardson CBE was a Scottish actor best known for his portrayal of the Machiavellian Tory politician Francis Urquhart in the BBC's House of Cards trilogy. He was also a leading Shakespearean stage actor....
) asks a passenger in the other, (Paul Eddington
Paul Eddington
Paul Eddington CBE was an English actor best known for his appearances in popular television sitcoms of the 1970s and 80s: The Good Life, Yes Minister and Yes, Prime Minister.-Early life:...
) "Pardon me, would you have any Grey Poupon?" The other responds, "But of course!" The closing shot is of the Grey Poupon jar being passed between the vehicles. This commercial has been parodied in many films and TV shows including the 1992 movie Wayne's World
Wayne's World
Wayne's World was originally a recurring sketch from the NBC television series Saturday Night Live. It evolved from a segment titled "Wayne's Power Minute" on the CBC Television series It's Only Rock & Roll, as the main character first appeared in that show...
and Family Guy's Blue Harvest
Blue Harvest
Blue Harvest was a fake working title used to hide the 1982 production of Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, the third installment of the Star Wars film series...
.
In 2007, Grey Poupon/Kraft company introduced three new specialty mustards: a coarse ground mustard, with whole mustard seeds; a spicy brown mustard, with diced yellow onion
Onion
The onion , also known as the bulb onion, common onion and garden onion, is the most widely cultivated species of the genus Allium. The genus Allium also contains a number of other species variously referred to as onions and cultivated for food, such as the Japanese bunching onion The onion...
s; and a honey
Honey
Honey is a sweet food made by bees using nectar from flowers. The variety produced by honey bees is the one most commonly referred to and is the type of honey collected by beekeepers and consumed by humans...
mustard, with clover honey and spices.
See also
- Maille Dijon mustardMaille (company)Maille is a French mustard and pickle company. Founded in 1747, it is famous for its Dijon mustard and cornichon. The company traces its roots to Antoine Claude Maille. In 1720 Maille developed new forms of vinegar to help stop the ongoing plague engulfing the south of France...
a Dijon mustard made in France and sold in America
External links
- Malcolm Gladwell article describing the brand's rise
- YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
video of the advertisement