The History of McCormick Spices

Willoughby M. McCormick started his company in Baltimore, Maryland in 1889 at the age of 25. He started out by offering fruit syrups, juices, and flavoring extracts, which he sold door-to-door under the company name Bee Brand (the company name was later changed to McCormick & Company). McCormick also sold an assortment of other products, including Uncle Sam's Nerve and Bone Liniment and Iron Glue. McCormick didn’t start selling spices until 1896, when he purchased the Philadelphia-based F.G. Emmett Spice Company. Then in 1947, McCormick purchased A. Schilling & Company, a San Francisco-based business that sold coffee, extracts, and spices. This move allowed McCormick to expand nationally, as the company now had a base of operations on both coasts. For over 40 years, McCormick continued to sell some products under the Schilling name; Shilling products were finally re-branded to McCormick products in the 1990s. Over time, McCormick has diversified beyond spices and now has many other food-related holdings, including several famous hot sauce and mustard brands. Still, McCormick is best known today as one of the most trusted spice and extract brands in the United States.