Keen's

Keen's Mustard is a brand that has existed since 1742 [http://www.britishempire.co.uk/media/advertising/keensmustardpack.htm] . The original maker, Keen & Sons in England, became Keen Robinson & Company, then was acquired in 1903 by rival mustard-maker Colman's who continued to use the Keen's brand-name at least in Canada and Australia. Colman's became Reckitt & Colman after a merger in 1938, and most of that company is now part of Unilever. And while Unilever continues to own the brand-name Keen's for the UK domestic market [http://www.ipo.gov.uk/t-find-adp?propnum=0592535001] , in places where the venerable brand is still being sold, it is now owned by McCormick & Company of the USA, and used by its subsidiaries McCormick Canada, and McCormick Australia [http://www.mccormick.com.au/productdetail.cfm?ID=10522] . McCormick took over the Keen's brand in Canada and Australia in 1998.

Although historically a maker of dry mustard, since 1963 Keen's has also been available in Canada as a prepared mustard.

In 1992 a special 250th anniversary tin of Keen's Mustard, sold in Canada, contained the following:

For over 250 years, Keen's has provided premium quality Dry Mustard to discerning customers around the world. The brand was first manufactured and sold in 1742 by Messers Keen and Sons in the Garlick Hill section of London, England. Keen's quickly established itself as a superior mustard, winning prestigious medals in London, Paris, Moscow, Australia and Philadelphia while also obtaining royal warrants to William 1V, Queen Victoria and Napoleon III. Today the tradition continues. Keen's Dry Mustard is manufactured by Colman's of Norwich by appointment to Queen Elizabeth II, and remains the "genuine double superfine" grade. Insist on the very best. Use Keen's Dry Mustard.
Imported by Reckitt and Colman Canada Inc. Toronto Ontario M8Z 5M5

Also in 1992, the company sponsored the Keen's Mustard FJ Series of Formula Junior races in Australia [http://www.formula2.net/FJ62_IndexW.htm] .

The expression "keen as mustard", often thought to have originated with the mustard by Keen & Sons, actually predates it, since the OED cites examples of the use of the expression from 1672.

Links

* [http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/as-keen-as-mustard.html As keen as mustard] — Phrases website