Emile A. Zatarain, Sr.

Emile A. Zatarain, Sr. (1866–1959) was a grocer and food entrepreneur who trademarked a root beer and then built a business selling spices, condiments, and foods flavored in the culinary traditions of New Orleans and Louisiana's Creole and Cajun cultures to the world via the brand that today is known simply as Zatarain's.

Zatarain had five sons. Emile A Zatarain, Jr., the oldest, took over the company as his father slowly retired. Charles Zatarain was the last surviving son of Emile when he died in 1986 at age 89. His great-granddaughter, Allison Zatarain, wrote a history of Emile and the family in 1993.

Emile A. Zatarain, Sr., a merchant and entrepreneur of Basque descent, was born in 1886, it is estimated on the 1910 U.S. Census. He had 5 sons, all of whom followed him into his business when they finished school.

In 1886, Zatarain opened a grocery store with the first National Cash Register in Louisiana. A few months later, he bought a horse and buggy to do deliveries. The company's big success, at first, was root beer. According to great granddaughter Allison Zatarain, "Emile introduced Papoose Root Beer at 2:30 p.m. on May 7, 1889, at the Louisiana (Purchase) Exposition. The root beer was so successful, that his business grew, and grew, and grew!"

Several years later, Zatarain found that it was more cost effective to sell the root beer blend as an extract. Zatarain formed a company called Papoose Pure Food Products to manufacture the root beer and diversify into other foods and he built a factory at 925 Valmont Street, New Orleans. He began to import and pack olives, pickles and spices.

On May 29, 1922, as his sons assumed more of the day-to-day operation, Zatarain reincorporated the business as E.A. Zatarain & Sons, Inc. and also did business as Zatarain's Pure Food Products. Emile A. Zatarain, Jr. and his wife Ida May Bennett Zatarain eventually took over the business. Ida May created recipes for their products like Remoulade Sauce and Olive Salad.

Zatarain died in 1959. He was 93 years old.

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