Ambrosia is a well known brand in the United Kingdom. Its original product was a dried milk powder for infants, but it is most famous for its custard and rice pudding. The brand plays on the fact that it is made in Devon (at a factory in Lifton), with well known strapline "Devon knows how they make it so creamy".
- 1917 The Ambrosia creamery was founded by Albert Morris, in his home town of Lifton, on the Devon-Cornwall border, to make a rich food for infants. He took milk from local farms, where most of the cows were the Red Ruby breed, and dried it with roller dryers.
- The product soon came to the attention of the British military, who took significant quantities for its soldiers, still fighting the first world war.
- Just prior to the second world war, the Ambrosia creamery was the first company to start making creamed rice pudding ready in a tin. Following the outbreak of war the vast majority of production was placed in Red Cross food parcels.
- After the cessation of hostilities Ambrosia relaunched the product, along with a creamed macaroni pudding.
- 1957 Following increasing demand, the creamery opened a new factory near to the original production facility.
- 1990 The entire company was acquired by Colman's ltd, a famous brand of mustard.
- 2001 This is turn was bought out by Unilever.
- 2004 Unilever sold the brand on to Premier Foods, where it is still a core brand, alongside others such as Bisto, Branston and Hovis.
Sources of Information
- [1] Wikipedia