Amora (mustard)

Amora Maille Societe Industrielle,[1] also written as Amora-Maille, is a French company and brand that manufactures condiments. The company is a subsidiary of Unilever and the leading condiment maker in France. The company operates two major brands, Amora and Maille.

History

Amora Maille was formerly headquartered in Dijon, France.[2]

In 1999, the company had around 1,000 employees and operated plants in the communes of Dijon, Chevigny, Appoigny, Carvin and Vitrolles.[2][3] The company also had a sales operation in Belgium at the time.[2] A mustard museum was located at the Amora Maille plant in Dijon.[4]

In 1999, Amora Maille was acquired by the multinational consumer goods company Unilever.[2][3][5] Unilever paid $739.3 million for the company, equivalent to 460 million pounds or 716.5 million euros.[2] The company was sold by a division of the French banking group Paribas SA, the Paribas Affaires Industrielles LBO Fund, and several other investors.[2][3] The acquisition was estimated to increase Unilever's share of the European culinary market from 9% to 12%.[2] The site now produces all the Amora and Maille mustard sold in France and around the world. The gherkins sold under the Amora and Maille brands, which have always been harvested in Yonne, have come from China or India since the year 2000.[6]

In 2008, Amora Maille announced that it was closing three of its plants in Dijon, laying off more than half of their workers, and concentrating their operations in Chevigny.[7] The Dijon plant closed in 2009, some production was exported to Poland, and as of 2018 part of the company's production takes place in Chevigny-Saint-Sauveur.[8]

Products

The company operates two major brands, Amora and Maille.[2][3]

The Amora brand sells mustard, ketchup, bouillon, salad dressing, and seasonings.[2][3] The Maille brand sells mustard, sauces, olive oil, and vinegar.[2][3]

Its mustard is considered a strong and pungent one, compared to other Dijon mustards.[9]

Controversies

In August 2018, foodwatch (a European advocacy group focused on consumer rights), accused Amora of false advertising for its "Mustard Vinaigrette" salad dressing product, which was found to contain only 0.7% mustard and mustard seeds not sourced from Dijon.[10]

See also

References
  1. "Amora Maille Societe Industrielle". OpenCorporates. 1 January 1900. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  2. "Unilever Agrees to Buy Amora Maille To Increase Share of Culinary Market". The Wall Street Journal. 25 November 1999. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  3. Karmel, Elizabeth. "How To Make A Salad You Actually Want To Eat". Forbes. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  4. Camuto, Robert V. (17 September 2006). "A Little Dijon on the Side French City Is About More Than Mustard". The Washington Post. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  5. Baker, Lucy. "Unilever swallows up French mustard maker for £460m". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2 May 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  6. Le cornichon en France
  7. "Crisis hits all sectors, from food to cars". France 24. 21 November 2008. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  8. Jaffin, Robin (8 October 2018). "Burgundy's Last Independent Mustard Factory Will Make Your Eyes Water". Vice News. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  9. Karmel, Elizabeth. "How To Make A Salad You Actually Want To Eat". Forbes. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  10. Mari, Pal. "Melon, olives, vinaigrette... Une association dénonce des étiquettes trompeuses". Le Parisien. Retrieved 14 April 2021.


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