Osem (company)

For other uses, see Osem (disambiguation).

Osem Investments Ltd.

Osem logo
Type	Public
Traded as	TASE: OSEM
Industry	Food processing
Founded	1942 (1942)
Headquarters	Petah Tikva, Israel
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Aviezer Kaplan, Itsik Tsaig (CEO)
Products	Coffee, Pasta, Breakfast cereals, Confectionery
Revenue	NIS 3,807.2 million (2010)
Operating income	NIS 480.5 million (2010)
Net income	NIS 316.48 million (2010)
Total assets	NIS 3,551.8 million (2010)
Number of employees	4707
Parent	Nestlé
Website	www.osem.co.il

Osem Investments Ltd. (TASE: OSEM) (Hebrew: אסם‎) 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.

History

Founded in 1942 as a food marketing company, in 1946, the company built its first factory in Bnei Brak. It originally produced noodles and ptitim, an imitation of Sardinian fregula. 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 which once contained high quantities of monosodium glutamate (MSG). The company now 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).

In 1995, Osem started to market Nestlé's products. Among these are coffee, chocolate, and breakfast cereals. In 1995 Nestlé also acquired 10% of Osem's shares, followed by an additional 41% in 1997.

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.

In August 2015, Israel's Health Ministry ruled that Heinz Tomato Ketchup does not contain enough tomato solids to qualify as ketchup and must be referred to as "tomato seasoning. Osem, a rival ketchup manufacturer, had Heinz' product tested and found that it only contained 21% tomato concentrate; regulations in Israel require that it contain at least 41%. Osem successfully petitioned the government to force Heinz to change the Hebrew labelling on their ketchup. The ruling does not affect the English language labelling.

Production facilities and subsidiaries

Osem factory, Modi'in

The company 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.

External links

• Osem official web site
• Osem official recipes site (Hebrew)