Osem (company)

History

In 1942, Eugen Propper and his partner merged Hadagan with two other factories, Assisit and Itrit, to create Osem. The name's origin is in the prayer of the High Priest on Yom Kippur at the time of the Temple in Jerusalem on leaving the Holy of Holies.

In 1946, the company built its first factory in Bnei Brak, producing noodles. Seven years later, in 1953, upon a request by Israel's first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, the company added its staple "rice-substitute" product ptitim. In 1964, Osem's snack factory was founded in Holon, and the company's main product was created - the peanut butter-flavoured Bamba. In 1970, the company started producing baked food in addition to introducing the Bissli snacks, which come in several flavours such as falafel, mesquite, BBQ, pizza, and onion. Osem also produces soup powders and markets MSG-free versions of its soup mixes under a green label as opposed to the traditional red one.

The company's main factory was built in 1976 in Petah Tikva, in which the company's administration offices, distribution centre, and the sauce factory are now found.

Osem has acquired several smaller food companies and expanded their product lines, such as Froumine, Argal Bakery Shop, and Magdanot HaBait factory (where the cakes production line is found).

Other products manufactured by Osem are Cheerios breakfast cereal and hummus.

Production facilities and subsidiaries

The company, formerly known as Osem Ltd, holds a number of subsidiaries which make up the Osem Group. The company's subsidiaries include Sabra Salads, Tivall, Of Tov, Nestlé Ice Creams, Beit Hashita, Asamim, Nestlé-Purina, Materna Ltd. (51%), and Foodtec. In 2008, the company bought Tribe Mediterranean Foods Ltd., a Mediterranean food producer and distributor based in the United States. The group produces approximately 2,000 different products, divided into four main categories: room temperature food - snacks and pastries, room temperature food - other, chilled food, and frozen food.

The group operates 10 different production facilities in Israel, and distributes its produce through its distribution centers. In 2007, the group completed the construction of a nationwide distribution and logistics center. In addition, the group exports its produce to Europe and the United States through its overseas subsidiaries: Osem U.K. Ltd. and Osem USA Inc.

References

References

1. (2011). "Osem Investments Ltd.". [[Tel Aviv Stock Exchange]].
2. "Dun's 100 - Israel's Largest Enterprises 2009". Dun & Bradstreet.
3. Jessica Steinberg. (April 20, 2004). "In Soy Food, Kibbutzim Find Manna for a Modern Age". [[The New York Times]].
4. Osem Nestlé USA. "About Osem".
5. World of Judaica. "Osem Origins".
6. "Machzor Yom Kippur Ashkenaz Linear, Musaf for Yom Kippur, The Avodah Service 537".
7. Thomas A. Friedman. (December 1, 1985). "Israeli feel the sting". [[The New York Times]].
8. Marnie Hanel. (October 22, 2015). "Letter of Recommendation: Bamba". [[The New York Times]].
9. Israel Shenker. (April 10, 1975). "Israeli Food Show Almost Chickenless". [[The New York Times]].
10. (4 February 2016). "Nestle to Buy Out Food Maker Osem for About $840 Million".
11. (January 3, 1991). "Bronfman Group To Invest in Osem". [[The New York Times]].
12. (April 12, 2015). "Rachel Glickman, Joshua Rosen". [[The New York Times]].