Claussen pickles
An American refrigerated pickle brand known for uncooked, crunchy pickles.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Claussen is an American pickle brand whose identity is built around refrigerated, uncooked pickles marketed for their pronounced crunch. The brand traces its origins to C. F. Claussen & Sons, founded by vegetable farmer Claus Claussen Sr. in Chicago in May 1870. After producing a surplus cucumber crop, Claussen began preserving the cucumbers as pickles. Production remained on the original Chicago property for more than a century before moving to Woodstock, Illinois, in 1976. The business remained family-associated through its early decades. Claussen Sr. was followed by his son, Claus S. Claussen, who was president when he died in an automobile accident on December 20, 1932. William C. Claussen, born in 1890, also served as president of the pickle company. In 1970, the company was sold to Oscar Mayer. Oscar Mayer was acquired by General Foods in 1981; General Foods later merged with Kraft in 1990 to create Kraft General Foods, which was renamed Kraft Foods in 1995. Kraft Foods subsequently merged with Heinz in 2015, making Claussen part of the Kraft Heinz brand portfolio. Claussen's principal distinction is its refrigerated distribution and preparation method. Unlike many shelf-stable pickle brands, Claussen pickles are not cooked and are generally kept in the refrigerated section of grocery stores. This positioning supports the brand's emphasis on freshness, firmness, and texture. Its range has included Kosher Dills in whole, half, spear, mini-dill, and sandwich-slice formats; Deli Style Hearty Garlic pickles; New York Deli Half Sours; Burger Slices; and Hot & Spicy products in spear and chip formats. The brand has also produced sauerkraut and formerly sold sweet pickle relish. Crunch became a central advertising claim during the late twentieth century. A 1992 television commercial depicted a Claussen pickle snapping under pressure while unnamed competing pickles bent rather than broke. Vlasic Foods, associated with a competing pickle brand, challenged the advertisement before an advertising-industry tribunal, arguing that the comparison was unfair and misleading. The tribunal ultimately upheld Claussen's claims. Claussen has also been involved in notable portfolio and partnership activity. In 2002, the Federal Trade Commission blocked an attempted acquisition of Claussen by the investment group that owned Vlasic Pickles. Regulators concluded that combining the two brands could create severe competitive problems in the refrigerated-pickle market. In more recent years, Claussen extended its identity beyond conventional pickle jars through collaborations, including a pickle-flavored sparkling wine cocktail with Spritz Society in 2023 and pickle-flavored jelly beans with Frankford Candy & Chocolate Company in 2024. The brand discontinued its sweet pickle relish in 2021. Claussen remains an active Kraft Heinz brand centered on refrigerated pickles and pickle-related products.
History
Claussen's history begins with Chicago farmer Claus Claussen Sr. In May 1870, Claussen founded C. F. Claussen & Sons after turning an excess cucumber harvest into pickles. The original agricultural setting was located at what is now 51st Street and South Western Boulevard in Chicago. Pickle production continued on that property for more than a century, linking the brand's early identity to local vegetable farming and small-scale preservation. The company remained associated with the Claussen family during its formative period. Claus S. Claussen, the founder's son, served as president until his death in an automobile accident on December 20, 1932. William C. Claussen, born in 1890, also served as president of the Claussen Pickle Company. The business eventually moved beyond family ownership when it was sold to Oscar Mayer in 1970. Claussen's corporate ownership then followed a sequence of major food-industry consolidations. Oscar Mayer was acquired by General Foods in 1981. General Foods later merged with Kraft in 1990, creating Kraft General Foods, which adopted the shorter Kraft Foods name in 1995. Kraft Foods merged with Heinz in 2015, and Claussen became part of the resulting Kraft Heinz portfolio. A major operational milestone occurred in 1976, when production moved from the historic Chicago site to Woodstock, Illinois. Woodstock, located in the Chicago metropolitan area, remains identified with the brand's headquarters and production history. Claussen developed a distinctive position within the pickle category by emphasizing refrigerated storage and uncooked processing. This approach contrasts with many shelf-stable pickles that are heat-processed and sold on ordinary grocery aisles. Claussen's cold-chain presentation became closely connected with claims of freshness and crisp texture. The brand made crunch a prominent part of its advertising. In a 1992 television commercial, a Claussen pickle was shown snapping under pressure while unnamed competing pickles bent. Vlasic Foods challenged the advertisement before an advertising-industry tribunal, contending that the commercial unfairly or misleadingly compared products. The tribunal ultimately upheld Claussen's claims, reinforcing the brand's ability to use crunch as a competitive message. Claussen was also at the center of a significant competition-policy decision. In 2002, the investment group that owned Vlasic Pickles sought to acquire Claussen. The Federal Trade Commission blocked the transaction, determining that the combination could produce severe anticompetitive effects and potentially a monopoly in refrigerated pickles. The decision reflected the relatively concentrated structure of that product segment and Claussen's importance within refrigerated pickles. The brand's core assortment has included Kosher Dills in several cuts, Deli Style Hearty Garlic, New York Deli Half Sours, Burger Slices, and Hot & Spicy varieties. It has also produced sauerkraut and sweet pickle relish. The relish received recognition in the San Francisco Chronicle's June 18, 2008, Taster's Choice challenge, but Claussen discontinued production of the product in 2021. More recently, Claussen has participated in novelty collaborations that use its distinctive flavor as an ingredient or cultural reference. In 2023, it partnered with Spritz Society on a pickle-flavored sparkling wine cocktail. In 2024, it worked with Frankford Candy & Chocolate Company on pickle-flavored jelly beans. These collaborations broadened the brand's visibility beyond traditional refrigerated pickle products while retaining its central association with pickle flavor. Claussen remains an active brand owned by Kraft Heinz, with refrigerated pickles as its principal business.
- 2024
Pickle-flavored jelly bean collaboration
[1]Claussen and Frankford Candy & Chocolate Company release pickle-flavored jelly beans.
- 2023
Pickle-flavored sparkling cocktail collaboration
[1]Claussen partners with Spritz Society on a pickle-flavored sparkling wine cocktail.
- 2021
Sweet pickle relish is discontinued
[1]Claussen ends production of its sweet pickle relish.
- 2015
Kraft Heinz is formed
[1]Kraft Foods merges with Heinz, placing Claussen in the Kraft Heinz portfolio.
- 2008
Sweet pickle relish receives tasting recognition
[1]Claussen sweet pickle relish wins the San Francisco Chronicle's June 18 Taster's Choice challenge.
- 2002
FTC blocks proposed Vlasic-related acquisition
[1]The Federal Trade Commission prevents the owner of Vlasic Pickles from acquiring Claussen because of anticipated anticompetitive effects in refrigerated pickles.
- 1995
Kraft General Foods becomes Kraft Foods
[1]The parent organization adopts the Kraft Foods name.
- 1992
Crunch advertising dispute
[1]Vlasic Foods challenges Claussen's snap-versus-bend advertising comparison; the advertising tribunal upholds Claussen's claims.
- 1990
Kraft General Foods is formed
[1]General Foods merges with Kraft, creating Kraft General Foods and adding another stage to Claussen's ownership history.
- 1981
Oscar Mayer joins General Foods
[1]General Foods acquires Oscar Mayer, beginning the corporate succession that eventually places Claussen within Kraft Heinz.
Products and positioning
A refrigerated pickle brand differentiated by uncooked preparation, cold-chain distribution, and a strong claim of superior crunchiness.
Refrigerated dill pickles
Kosher Dills
Claussen's core dill-pickle family, sold in whole, half, spear, mini-dill, and sandwich-slice formats. The line represents the brand's central refrigerated and uncooked proposition, with texture and crispness serving as key product attributes.
Refrigerated garlic pickles
Deli Style Hearty Garlic
A garlic-forward refrigerated pickle line offered in whole and sandwich-slice formats. It extends the core Claussen pickle platform with a stronger savory seasoning profile while retaining the brand's emphasis on crunch.
Refrigerated half-sour pickles
New York Deli Half Sours
Whole half-sour pickles positioned around a deli-style flavor profile. The product adds a less fully soured option to Claussen's refrigerated assortment and is distinct from the standard Kosher Dill range.
Refrigerated sliced pickles
Burger Slices
Pre-sliced refrigerated pickles designed for burgers and sandwiches. Their format emphasizes convenience and direct use as a topping while maintaining Claussen's signature crisp-texture positioning.
Refrigerated spicy pickles
Hot & Spicy
A spicier Claussen range sold in spear and chip formats. It applies the brand's refrigerated pickle base to a hotter flavor profile intended for snacking, sandwiches, and meal accompaniment.
Fermented vegetable product
Sauerkraut
A non-pickle product historically manufactured by Claussen as part of its broader preserved-vegetable offering.
Pickle condiment
Sweet Pickle Relish
A sweet relish product formerly made by Claussen. It received recognition in a 2008 San Francisco Chronicle Taster's Choice challenge but was discontinued in 2021.
Marketing campaigns
- 2024Frankford pickle-flavored jelly beans
United States
Claussen collaborated with Frankford Candy & Chocolate Company on jelly beans flavored with Claussen pickle taste, extending the brand into novelty confectionery.
- 2023Spritz Society pickle-flavored sparkling wine cocktail
United States
Claussen partnered with Spritz Society to create a pickle-flavored sparkling wine cocktail, using an unexpected format to generate attention around the brand's distinctive flavor.
- 1992Snap-versus-bend crunch advertising
United States
A television commercial presented a Claussen pickle snapping under pressure while unnamed competing pickles bent. The execution made crunch the visual proof point for the brand's product superiority claim.
Outcome. Vlasic Foods challenged the advertisement before an advertising-industry tribunal, but the tribunal upheld Claussen's claims.
Brand decisions
2021
Discontinue sweet pickle relishStrategyBackground
Claussen had maintained a broader portfolio that included sweet pickle relish in addition to refrigerated pickles.
Action taken
The company ceased producing the relish.
Aftermath
The brand's active portfolio became more concentrated on refrigerated pickle varieties and related products.
2002
Proposed acquisition by Vlasic owner is blockedM&ABackground
The investment group behind Vlasic Pickles sought to acquire Claussen, combining two important brands in the refrigerated-pickle segment.
Action taken
The Federal Trade Commission blocked the transaction on competition grounds.
Aftermath
Claussen remained separate from the Vlasic-related ownership group, avoiding the proposed combination that regulators said could create severe anticompetitive effects.
1976
Move production from Chicago to WoodstockStrategyBackground
Claussen had produced pickles on its original Chicago property since the nineteenth century.
Action taken
Production was relocated to Woodstock, Illinois.
Aftermath
Woodstock became the principal location associated with Claussen's headquarters and production.
Sources1 sources
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