Pumpkin Pie Spice: An Iconic McCormick Product (And How We’re Working to Meet the Holiday Demand)

DID YOU KNOW…that Pumpkin Pie Spice was created by McCormick & Company? That’s right – the fall flavor that you know and love was launched in 1934 as an easy way to mix ingredients for pumpkin pie. Now, pumpkin spice is an iconic fall flavor and aroma – making its way into drinks, candies, cookies, cereal, beauty products, and even dog shampoo.

But, the Pumpkin Pie Spice obsession didn’t come as a shock. In fact, McCormick predicted that Pumpkin Pie Spice would become the next “it” flavor in our trend report, “McCormick Flavor Forecast 2010.” 

For 86 years, McCormick Pumpkin Pie Spice has been a holiday staple. And despite the unique Pumpkin Pie Spice flavored products that emerge every year, there’s no doubt that this quintessential spice blend cues all things autumn. McCormick flavors pumpkin pies, lattes, and other Thanksgiving-themed treats with our iconic blend of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice. And, to no surprise, the fall accounts for about 80 percent of McCormick’s retail sales for Pumpkin Pie Spice—in 2019, Pumpkin Pie Spice was the fourth best-selling retail spice from September through November. 

And now, during the COVID-19 pandemic, McCormick understands that our consumers are cooking at home more than ever. To accommodate for the increase in demand and the accelerated shift to e-commerce, McCormick has invested in our digital capabilities to ensure that we can bring our consumers their favorite flavors wherever they are. And our manufacturing facilities around the world are working hard to ensure consumers have access to the favorite flavors that bring their holiday recipes to life, including Pumpkin Pie Spice. We’re confident that we are well positioned to meet the demand for our top-selling holiday products.

And while there are plenty of ways to get your Pumpkin Pie Spice fix this holiday season, our favorite will forever be the original (see our Classic Pumpkin Pie recipe here). 

Happy Holidays, from our family to yours. 

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