Osem (company)
Encyclopedia
Osem Investments Ltd. is one of the largest food manufacturers and distributors in Israel
.
The group is majority owned (51%) by Nestlé
S.A. of Switzerland
.
The company is listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange
and is a constituent of the TA-25 Index.
In the beginning, Osem produced noodles, and invented small baked flakes "ptitim
" in order to provide the needs of the Mizrahis
, whose diets were largely made up of rice
and couscous
. In 1964, Osem's snack factory was founded in Holon, and the company's main product was created - the peanut butter flavored Bamba
. In 1970, the company started producing baked food in addition to introducing the Bissli
snacks, which come is several flavors such as falafel, mesquite, BBQ, pizza, etc. It also produces soup
powders, including a pareve chicken flavor, vegetable, and onion and sauce
powders.
The company's main factory was built in 1976 in Petah Tikva
, in which the company's administration offices, distribution center 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).
In 1995, Osem started to market Nestle
's products. Among these are coffee
, chocolate
and breakfast cereals; Nestle also acquired 50.1% of Osem's shares in that year.
All Osem products produced in Israel are produced under the kosher supervision of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel
and many are certified by the Edah HaChareidis as well.
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.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
.
The group is majority owned (51%) by Nestlé
Nestlé
Nestlé S.A. is the world's largest food and nutrition company. Founded and headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland, Nestlé originated in a 1905 merger of the Anglo-Swiss Milk Company, established in 1867 by brothers George Page and Charles Page, and Farine Lactée Henri Nestlé, founded in 1866 by Henri...
S.A. of Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
The company is listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange
Tel Aviv Stock Exchange
The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange in Tel Aviv is Israel's only stock exchange.The TASE is the only public market for trading securities in Israel. It plays a major role in the Israeli economy....
and is a constituent of the TA-25 Index.
History
Founded in 1942 as a food marketing company, four years later in 1946, the company built its first factory in Bnei Brak.In the beginning, Osem produced noodles, and invented small baked flakes "ptitim
Ptitim
Ptitim is an Israeli toasted pasta shaped like rice or little balls. Outside of Israel it is known as Israeli couscous or Jerusalem couscous. -History:...
" in order to provide the needs of the Mizrahis
Mizrahi Jews
Mizrahi Jews or Mizrahiyim, , also referred to as Adot HaMizrach are Jews descended from the Jewish communities of the Middle East, North Africa and the Caucasus...
, whose diets were largely made up of rice
Rice
Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...
and couscous
Couscous
Couscous is a Berber dish of semolina traditionally served with a meat or vegetable stew spooned over it. Couscous is a staple food throughout Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia.-Etymology:...
. In 1964, Osem's snack factory was founded in Holon, and the company's main product was created - the peanut butter flavored Bamba
Bamba snack
Bamba is a peanut butter-flavored snack manufactured by the Osem corporation in Holon, IsraelBamba is one of the leading snack foods produced and sold in Israel. It has been marketed since 1963 with no decline in sales. Bamba makes up 25% of the Israeli snack market...
. In 1970, the company started producing baked food in addition to introducing the Bissli
Bissli
Bissli is an Israeli wheat snack produced by the Osem corporation. Bissli is Osem's leading snack brand after Bamba.Over 4,000 tons of Bissli are produced each year in an array of shapes and flavors. Bissli is a crunchy snack that has been likened to fried pasta...
snacks, which come is several flavors such as falafel, mesquite, BBQ, pizza, etc. It also produces soup
Soup
Soup is a generally warm food that is made by combining ingredients such as meat and vegetables with stock, juice, water, or another liquid. Hot soups are additionally characterized by boiling solid ingredients in liquids in a pot until the flavors are extracted, forming a broth.Traditionally,...
powders, including a pareve chicken flavor, vegetable, and onion and sauce
Sauce
In cooking, a sauce is liquid, creaming or semi-solid food served on or used in preparing other foods. Sauces are not normally consumed by themselves; they add flavor, moisture, and visual appeal to another dish. Sauce is a French word taken from the Latin salsus, meaning salted...
powders.
The company's main factory was built in 1976 in Petah Tikva
Petah Tikva
Petah Tikva known as Em HaMoshavot , is a city in the Center District of Israel, east of Tel Aviv.According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, at the end of 2009, the city's population stood at 209,600. The population density is approximately...
, in which the company's administration offices, distribution center 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).
In 1995, Osem started to market Nestle
Nestlé
Nestlé S.A. is the world's largest food and nutrition company. Founded and headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland, Nestlé originated in a 1905 merger of the Anglo-Swiss Milk Company, established in 1867 by brothers George Page and Charles Page, and Farine Lactée Henri Nestlé, founded in 1866 by Henri...
's products. Among these are coffee
Coffee
Coffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...
, chocolate
Chocolate
Chocolate is a raw or processed food produced from the seed of the tropical Theobroma cacao tree. Cacao has been cultivated for at least three millennia in Mexico, Central and South America. Its earliest documented use is around 1100 BC...
and breakfast cereals; Nestle also acquired 50.1% of Osem's shares in that year.
All Osem products produced in Israel are produced under the kosher supervision of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel
Chief Rabbinate of Israel
The Chief Rabbinate of Israel is recognized by law as the supreme halakhic and spiritual authority for the Jewish people in Israel. The Chief Rabbinate Council assists the two chief rabbis, who alternate in its presidency. It has legal and administrative authority to organize religious...
and many are certified by the Edah HaChareidis as well.
Production facilities and subsidiaries
The company holds a number of subsidiaries which make up the Osem Group. The company's subsidiaries include Sabra Salads, Tivall, Of Tov, Nestle Ice Creams, Beit Hashita, Asamim, Nestle-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 & 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.