A video showing a sandwich made from slices of Duke's Mayo is making its rounds online. On Wednesday, June 25, 2025, food influencer Kyle Marcoux (@thevulgarchef) took to his Instagram to share a collaboration with the brand.
The clip saw Marcoux layering two toasts with a sliced version of the beloved condiment before adding two cuts of heirloom tomatoes. The influencer wrote:
"Why spread it when you can slice it? #dukespartner #dukesmayo."
He later edited the caption to clarify that the slices were not a real product, stating:
"These mayo slices are not a real product - just a little fun we cooked up with @dukes_mayonnaise."
The post soon went viral with over 40,000 likes. Internet users were quick to hop on to share their thoughts. Many expressed their excitement.
Others were not as happy.
Duke's is a condiment brand created by South Carolina native Eugenia Duke in 1917, with mayonnaise being its flagship product. According to the brand's website, Eugenia began selling sandwiches using her homemade mayonnaise to soldiers stationed near her hometown of Greenville.
The venture was a success, and by 1918, she had sold about 11,000 sandwiches and even expanded to buy delivery trucks and shops. She began bottling the condiment. The venture took off, and Duke began focusing her efforts on the product. However, by the late 1920s, she was unable to keep up with the demand and sold the business and her recipe to C.F. Sauer Company in 1929, which set up the brand's first factory.
According to a January 2025 article inSouthern Living, Duke's has a loyal following among those living in the Southern United States. Notably, it is the third-largest brand selling the condiment in the country, behind Hellmann's and Kraft.
Per the outlet, loyalty to Duke's stems from its distinct "tangy flavor." It is worth noting that the company's campaign, "Duke’s—It’s got Twang!" also references the flavor. Another difference from other condiment brands is that Duke's remains sugar-free. According to Southern Living, Eugenia might have made the product unsweetened due to sugar rationing during the war.
Further, the company's recipe uses egg yolks instead of egg whites, giving it a richer and creamier texture. It also uses apple cider vinegar instead of regular white vinegar, giving it a tangier taste.
Over the years, Duke's has expanded to include flavored and light versions, other condiments like mustard, sandwich spreads, dressings, and a line of Southern sauces like Tennessee Smoke & Whiskey BBQ and Hickory Moonshine BBQ.
The company also hosts an annual Duke's Mayo Bowl (collegiate), which sees players of the winning team drench themselves in the condiment. Every summer (since 2020), Duke's also hosts the Duke's Hot Tomato, a 10-day celebration combining tomato with the brand's flagship product in various dishes.
Kyle Marcoux is an influencer who is known to share creative and sometimes outrageous recipes. He boasts a following of over 347,000 on Instagram. Some of his shocking food combinations include a Krispy Kreme donut topped with sausage, mustard, and ketchup, a sliced baked bean sandwich, and even mac-and-cheese-filled chocolate cups.
TOPICS: Mayo, Kyle Marcoux a.k.a The Vulgar Chef, Duke's Mayo, Duke's Mayonnaise