We all know brands. We all have our favorite brands.

Ketchup = Heinz vs. Del Monte. I choose Heinz.

Mustard = French’s vs. Plochman’s. I choose Plochman’s.

Syrup = Aunt Jemima vs. Mrs. Butterworth’s. This is a close one but I choose Mrs. Butterworth’s.

That’s why I was delighted to recently see Mrs. Butterworth in a Geico commercial and more recently in the news regarding the mystery of her first name.

In a 1987 television ad, it was revealed that Mrs. Butterworth’s first name is “Joy.” She was reluctant to let her first name be used because her childhood friends referred to her, jokingly, as “Joy Buzzerworth,” punning on the popular novelty item the Joy Buzzer.

Recently, Mrs. Butterworth ran a contest to see who could remember her first name. I had no idea what her first name was even though I’ve spent many mornings with the matronly female. It turns out, two teenagers (I’m sure with their parents help) from the Midwest knew her name was Joy. I’m not sure what the teenagers won, maybe, a lifetime supply of the tasty syrup.

The full story is a quick read and a great marketing idea.

So I’ll keep using Mrs. Butterworth’s when I make my kids their pancakes but I feel like I know her just a little more. Even more than when I chugged half a bottle of the sweet stuff on a dare when I was 13 years old!