MKC vs AFRM Comparison

In its 135-plus-year history, McCormick has become the leading global manufacturer of spices, herbs, extracts, seasonings, and other flavorings. In addition to its namesake brand, the firm's portfolio includes Old Bay, Zatarain's, Thai Kitchen, Frank's RedHot, French's, and Cholula. This mix will be complemented by the pending addition of Unilever's food brands, primarily Knorr cooking aids and Hellmann's mayonnaise. After the deal close, the combined business is slated to generate 70% of sales from consumers and 30% from restaurants and other packaged food and beverage manufacturers. Around 40% of sales are slated to come from faster-growing emerging markets, with Europe (23%) and North America (36%) accounting for the remainder.

Founded in 2012, Affirm is a market leader in the buy-now, pay-later space with around $36 billion in transaction volume in fiscal 2025. Affirm offers both zero-interest financing, which is merchant subsidized, and interest-bearing loans, which function as personal loans that are approved on a per-transaction basis. Over 70% of Affirm's transaction volume comes from its interest-bearing loans, which also comprise the majority of its revenue. Affirm operates in the United States, which accounted for more than 95% of its revenue in 2025, but the firm has also expanded to Canada and the United Kingdom.