Dennis' Horseradish facts for kids
Creamed horseradish flavor of Dennis' Horseradish
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| Private | |
| Industry | Food |
| Founded | Delhi, Ontario Canada (1960) |
| Headquarters | Delhi, Ontario, Canada |
| Products | Primary crop: Horseradish |
| Owner | Mark Whitmore Mark Healy Mark Vandenbosch |
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Number of employees
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5 |
Dennis' Horseradish is a special food item grown near Delhi, Ontario, Canada. This company has been making and selling its products since 1960. You can find their horseradish in many supermarkets across Ontario. They also aim to sell their products in Western Canada. Currently, Dennis' Horseradish is sold as far north as Lindsay, Ontario, where it is a popular item at the local farmers' market.
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The Story of Dennis' Horseradish
The Dennis' brand of horseradish is named after Dennis Gyorffy. He and his family started the business in 1960. They began in the basement of their home in Tillsonburg, Ontario.
How It All Started
The Gyorffy family included Dennis, Mary, and their sons Steve and Robert. Everyone helped to make and deliver the horseradish. They bought the horseradish roots from Marshall Farms in Ancaster, Ontario. First, the roots were washed using old-fashioned washing machines. After cleaning and peeling, they were ground up. Dennis used a large meat grinder for this. He tried different blades to get the horseradish just right.
Making the Products
The family used a special machine to fill each jar with the correct amount of horseradish. But the jar caps and labels were put on by hand. Their home had a cool room to store both the fresh roots and the finished products.
At that time, they made several types of horseradish products:
- Regular Horseradish
- Creamed Horseradish
- Beet and Horseradish Relish
- Seafood Cocktail Sauce
- Hot Mustard
Where They Sold Their Products
The family delivered their products to many places. They went from Windsor to Ottawa and even as far north as Sudbury. Their customers included small butcher shops and delis. They also sold to larger independent supermarkets, like the IGA chain.
New Owners Over Time
Dennis Gyorffy sold the business to John Hantz in 1969 and retired. Dennis passed away in 1985, but his business, label, and brand continued.
In 2008, the John Hantz family sold the company to the Ed DeHooghe and Jason Ryder families. Then, in 2020, the company was sold again. The Whitmore, Healy, and Vandenbosch families bought it to keep the horseradish tradition going.
About the Horseradish Products
All Dennis' Horseradish products are kosher. This means they follow special Jewish food rules. The farm and a small shop are located at 10 Arnold Sayeau. This is only a ten-minute drive from Lynedoch. There is free parking, and the shop is easy to access for wheelchairs.
Growing and Flavors
All the horseradish crops are grown and harvested in Norfolk County. The company grows its crops on about 30 acres of land. Dennis' Horseradish comes in different flavors. These range from very hot horseradish to seafood-flavored horseradish. Each serving comes in a glass bottle that holds about 250 milliliters of the product.
Health Benefits of Horseradish
The roots of horseradish plants have some interesting uses. They have been used to help prevent bloating in farm animals. Also, many people in the Greater Toronto Area like to eat local products. Dennis' Horseradish is one of these. It is known to have properties that can help reduce swelling and fight bacteria. It may also help boost your body's metabolism.
All their food products are kept cold in refrigerators at the farm.
Images for kids
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Creamed horseradish flavor of Dennis' Horseradish
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