Gulden's

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Gulden’s is the third-largest American mustard brand, after French’s and Grey Poupon, and one of the oldest mustard makers still operating. It is owned by ConAgra Brands and is best known for its spicy brown mustard, made from a blend of mustard seeds and spices with a secret recipe that has been kept for more than 140 years.

The story starts with Charles Gulden, born in 1843 in New York City. He started the business in the 1860s, first on Elizabeth Street near the South Street docks to easily access seeds and spices. Gulden’s expanded beyond New York in 1875 and patented a mustard-dispensing vessel in 1881 and a mustard jar cap in 1893. By 1883 the line grew to about 30 products, including olives and ketchup, and the company moved to a larger building. After 1911, Charles Gulden, Jr. ran the business and focused on mustard; Charles Gulden died in 1916. In 1949, Gulden’s introduced Gulden’s Prepared Yellow Mustard to meet demand for yellow mustard. The company later moved from the Bowery to Saddle Brook, New Jersey, in 1956, and changed hands several times: sold to American Home Foods in 1960 (later International Home Foods), which ConAgra bought in 2000 and moved production to Milton, Pennsylvania. By 2002 Gulden’s held about 6.6% of the mustard market.

Gulden’s has earned many awards, including medals at the 1869 and 1883 American Institute fairs and recognitions at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, the 1900 Paris Exposition, and the 1926 Philadelphia Exposition. A 2005 gold award at the Napa Valley Mustard Festival highlighted its reputation. The current formula is not the same as the original; mid-20th-century labels listed ingredients as mustard seed, vinegar, spices, and salt, with turmeric added later.