By Heather Taylor, Editor-in-Chief, PopIcon
How well would you say you know Manny Mayo, the Hellmann’s brand mascot? You might be familiar with his larger-than-life appearance at football stadiums or his side gig officiating weddings. You might even have thought to get ahead of us while reading this and scroll for facts from Manny’s “Stat Card” on the Hellmann’s website.
But even the Stat Card doesn’t explain the significance behind why this specific jar of mayonnaise weighs 1,913 pounds.
After chatting about all things Manny Mayo with Jessica Grigoriou, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Condiments at Unilever North America, we decided to share some of our favorite fun facts you didn’t know about this deli-friendly icon.
Let’s see how much you really know about Manny!
1. Manny Mayo Made His Debut in September 2024
Manny’s rookie debut occurred during the September 2024 football season. Grigoriou told PopIcon Hellmann’s wanted to increase its brand presence within football and have a mascot of their own. Just as football teams have mascots to rally their own fans!
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His introduction was a huge success. Grigoriou said he joined Hellmann’s pop-up college football tailgating events and went on a cross-country tour where he spread game day cheer and the love of mayonnaise to fans of underdog teams.
You know you’ve made waves when the USA TODAY is mulling over how Manny’s overnight success might rival that of the Pop-Tarts Bowl edible mascot.
2. “Manny Mayo” Is a Nickname
Who coined Manny Mayo’s name? This is a two-part answer.
The first part derives from Hellmann’s Mayonnaise — which some fans might have been able to guess on their own. What’s more surprising is how much of the mascot’s name was crowdsourced.
“We sourced name suggestions from fans at tailgating events and there were several submissions for ‘Manny’ so ‘Manny Mayo’ was born!” said Grigoriou.
3. PR Agency Edelman Helped Create Manny Mayo
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Great agencies are behind the creation of many iconic brand mascots and Edelman is credited with helping create Manny Mayo. The agency also recruited Pierre’s Mascots and Costumes to bring Manny’s costumed look to life.
4. There’s a Good Reason Why Manny’s Smiling
One of the biggest reasons fans immediately connect with Manny has to do with the mascot’s friendly eyes and wide grin. Because a jar of mayo doesn’t come with a built-in personality, Grigoriou said one of the biggest challenges was creating warmth and relatability in Manny while staying true to the brand’s heritage.
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This challenge was resolved by carefully crafting details, like Manny’s eyes and mouth, so they would feel inviting and expressive.
5. The Hellmann’s Jar Was an Important Part of Manny’s Design
We can’t imagine Manny Mayo without the signature Hellmann’s jar! While it’s not exactly easy to make a wearable jar, Grigoriou told PopIcon it had to be a part of Manny’s look.
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“Manny is proudly 54 inches long x 33 inches wide x 33 inches tall and 38 pounds,” she said. “While he can’t fit through most doorways and can’t touch his two hands together, he can walk, cheer on athletes, and make a mean Buffalo Chicken Dip.”
6. Does Manny Mayo Really Weigh 1,913 Pounds?
Ha! Not quite. The mascot’s full costumed look totals at 38 pounds, but the Hellmann’s website has him down at 1,913 pounds. This is a nod to the year Hellmann’s was founded: 1913.
7. Is Manny Mayo Really 7’1”?
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Yes, and Grigoriou can vouch for his actual height. She told us Manny Mayo’s height is based on his costume, which stands at around seven feet tall when worn. (The Green Giant may have more competition than he realizes!)
8. Yes, Manny Mayo Has Officiated a Wedding Ceremony
He even makes sure there’s plenty of chicken tenders and Hellmann’s dips during the reception.
Hellmann’s launched a nationwide search during summer 2025 to find a real couple to wed with Manny Mayo as their officiant to celebrate the perfect union of chicken tenders and Hellmann’s new Chicken Tender Dips. The winning couple, known under the alias of “The Sauceman’s,” won after sharing a video of their condiment Christmas tree complete with a Hellmann’s Mayonnaise ornament and proposal which used a sauce ramekin as a ring box.
They were married on July 21 at the Viva Las Vegas Chapel by the one and only Manny Mayo. Manny wore a custom tuxedo and helped the happy couple say “I Dip.” Afterwards, he danced with the newlyweds and their guests at their reception.
Manny will be making appearances at 14 NFL and collegiate football tailgating events this season, so keep up with his latest moves by following @HellmannsMayonnaise on social media.
Image Credits: Hellmann’s
About the Author
Heather Taylor is the senior writer and editor-in-chief of PopIcon, Advertising Week’s blog about brand mascots. Got a pitch on brand mascots or want to wax nostalgic about characters? Drop her a line at howveryheather@gmail.com.
