Ouma Rusks facts for kids
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Plain Ouma Rusks
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| Owner | RCL Foods (2013) |
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| Introduced | 1939 |
| Markets | Southern Africa |
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| Tagline | Baked on the original farm |
Ouma (often called Ouma Rusks) is a popular South African rusk. A rusk is a hard, dry biscuit or twice-baked bread. Ouma Rusks are made using a traditional buttermilk recipe. They were first created in 1939 by Elizabeth Ann Greyvenstyn in a small town called Molteno in the Eastern Cape. Today, Ouma Rusks are still made in Molteno and are very popular in Southern Africa.
Contents
The Story Behind Ouma Rusks
How Ouma Rusks Started
The story of Ouma Rusks began in 1939 during a tough time called the Great Depression. This was a period when many people around the world faced serious money problems and job losses. To help families in his town, a local pastor in Molteno gave money to the women in his church. He hoped they would start small businesses to earn extra income.
Each woman received a "half-crown," which was an old British coin. This amount was worth about two shillings and sixpence. In today's money, that would be around £30 or R520 in South Africa. Elizabeth Ann Greyvenstyn used her half-crown to start making rusks.
From Outspan to Ouma
At first, Elizabeth's rusks were sold under the name "Outspan Rusks." But soon after, the name was changed to Ouma. This word means "grandmother" in Afrikaans, which is one of South Africa's official languages. The name Ouma was chosen to give a warm, home-baked feeling to the rusks.
Growing the Business
In 1941, Ouma Rusks received its first big loan from a government company called the Industrial Development Corporation. They got £1,500, which helped the business grow even more.
Elizabeth's grandson, Leon Greyvensteyn, played a big part in setting up and managing the Ouma Rusks company. He later went on to create another famous South African snack: Simba Chips, in 1956.
Who Owns Ouma Rusks Now?
Over the years, Ouma Rusks has been owned by different companies. In the 1970s, it became part of a company called Fedfood. Then, in 1992, Foodcorp (South Africa) took over. Since 2013, Ouma Rusks has been owned by RCL Foods. The factory in Molteno still makes Ouma Rusks, providing jobs for many people in the town.
The Ouma Factory in Molteno
The Ouma factory in Molteno is very important to the town. It is the biggest employer there, meaning it provides the most jobs. About 250 people work at the factory, making sure that Ouma Rusks are baked and packaged for everyone to enjoy.
Ouma Rusks Advertising
Ouma Rusks has a very famous advertising slogan in South Africa: "Let’s go and dip an Ouma." This slogan encourages people to enjoy their rusks by dipping them in tea or coffee, which is a popular way to eat them.
