The McCormick'& Company, a diversified specialty food company, is a global
leader in the manufacture, marketing and distribution of spices, herbs, seasonings
and other flavors to the entire food industry. The Registrant was formed in 1915
under Maryland law as the successor to a business established in 1889.
The McCormick'& Company, operates in two business segments: consumer and
industrial. The consumer segment sells spices, herbs, extracts, seasoning blends,
sauces, marinades and specialty foods to the consumer food market under a variety
of brands, including "McCormick", "Zatarains" in the US,
"Ducros" in continental Europe, "Club House" in Canada and
"Schwartz" in the U.K. The industrial segment sells spices, blended
seasonings, condiments, coatings and compound flavors to food processors, restaurants,
distributors, warehouse clubs and institutional operations.
The most significant raw materials to the McCormick'& Company are vanilla,
cheese, pepper, packaging supplies, garlic and onion. Black pepper, vanilla
beans and other spices and herbs are generally sourced from countries other
than the United States.
The McCormick'& Company products are sold directly and through brokers,
wholesalers and distributors. In the consumer segment, products are generally
resold to consumers through grocery, drug, dollar and mass merchandise stores.
These customers are serviced either through direct shipments or through the
food wholesale channel. In the industrial segment, products are used by food
and beverage manufacturers as ingredients for their finished goods and by food
service customers to enhance the flavor of their foods. Customers for the industrial
segment include food processors and the restaurant industry, supplied both directly
and through distributors and warehouse clubs.
The McCormick'& Company, has a large number of customers for its products.
The McCormick'& Company owns a number of trademark registrations. Although
in the aggregate these trademarks may be material to the Registrants business,
the loss of any one of those trademarks, with the exception of the Registrants
"McCormick," "Zatarains," "Schwartz," "Club
House" and "Ducros" trademarks, would not have a material adverse
effect on the McCormick'& Companys business. The "McCormick"
trademark is extensively used by the McCormick'& Company in connection with
the sale of virtually all of the Registrants food products worldwide.
The McCormick'& Company'is a global leader in the manufacture and sale
of spices, herbs, extracts, seasonings and flavorings and competes in a geographic
market that is international and highly competitive.