Emile A. Zatarain Sr. (c. 1866–1959)[1] was a grocer and food entrepreneur who trademarked root beer and 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.
[2] Emile A. Zatarain Sr., a merchant and entrepreneur of Basque descent, was born in 1866, it is estimated on the 1910 U.S.
[2] In 1886,[2] Zatarain opened a grocery store with the first National Cash Register in Louisiana.
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.
"[2] Several years later, Zatarain found that it was more cost effective to sell the root beer blend as an extract.