OK Sauce facts for kids
OK Sauce is a special kind of brown sauce made in the United Kingdom. It was first created by a company called George Mason & Company. Later, another well-known company, Colmans, started making it.
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Where It All Began
OK Sauce first started in London, England. It was made in a factory called the Chelsea Works. This building had an interesting past, as it used to be a swimming pool!
In 1928, the company moved to a brand new factory. This factory was specially built to make sauces. It was located in Southfields, a part of London. The company was officially known as George Mason & Co Ltd.
Even though the company was named after George Mason, he left before World War 1. After he left, the Cooper family took over. Percy Cooper first ran the company. Later, his son, Rex Cooper, became the main leader.
Becoming Part of Colmans
Rex Cooper's son, Brian, and Rex's sister, Betty Urwin, helped with a big change. They oversaw the company joining Colmans. Colmans is a very famous food company.
Besides OK Sauce, the factories made other sauces and chutneys. They even had a smaller factory in Dover. This factory focused on making sauces like horseradish sauce and mint jelly.
The factories kept making sauces until 1969. That's when the company owners sold it to Reckitt and Colman. All the sauce making then moved to Norwich. Both the original factories closed down.
A Special Building and Royal Recognition
The company's products used to have a special honor called a Royal Warrant. This meant they supplied products to the Royal Family. This honor stopped around the time Colmans took over.
Even though the Southfields factory closed, its front part still stands. This part of the building has a cool Art Deco style. It was given a special protection status in 2002. This means it's an important historical building.
OK Sauce Today
Colmans still makes OK Sauce and other food items. Today, OK Sauce is very popular in the Far East. It is also a favorite in Chinese communities in the UK. Many Chinese takeaway restaurants use it as a key ingredient in their special OK sauce dishes.
