Rosella (brand) facts for kids

Rosella is a well-known Australian brand. It makes tasty foods like tomato soup, tomato sauces, and other yummy toppings called condiments. The company started way back in 1895. It was first known as the Rosella Preserving & Manufacturing Co..

Over the years, Rosella has had different owners. For about 40 years, it was owned by a big company called Unilever. Today, Sabrands Australia owns Rosella. They bought the brand in April 2013. The brand gets its name from the colorful Australian parrot. You can even see this parrot in the Rosella logo!

The Story of Rosella

The Rosella brand began in 1895. Two friends, H.R. McCracken and T.J. Press, started it. They began by making jams and preserving fruits. They worked in a backyard in Carlton, Victoria.

Soon, a person named Frederick John Cato helped them with money. He owned a grocery store chain. With his help, the company opened a small factory. This factory was in Flinders Street, Melbourne. In 1905, the Rosella Preserving Company opened a bigger factory. It was in Richmond, Victoria.

Rosella quickly became famous for its tomato sauce. They first made this sauce in 1899. It has become one of Australia's most famous food brands. Rosella also makes soup and tomato chutney. The company started with only six workers. By 1931, it had over 1000 employees. They worked in six different factories.

Who Has Owned Rosella?

In 1963, a company called Lever & Kitchen took over Rosella. This company later became known as Unilever. Rosella stayed with Unilever for almost 40 years.

In 2002, an Australian company bought Rosella back. This company was Stuart Alexander & Co Pty Ltd. They made a deal with Unilever. Unilever kept the Rosella factory for five years. During that time, Unilever continued to make Rosella products for Stuart Alexander.

Stuart Alexander owned Rosella until 2006. Then, the Rosella brand was sold again.

In December 2012, the company that owned Rosella faced financial trouble. This company was Gourmet Food Holdings. They also owned other brands like Waterwheel and Pitango. After trying to sell the company, it was announced in March 2013 that it would close. The owners looked for someone new to buy the Rosella brand.

In April 2013, Sabrands Australia bought the Rosella brand. Sabrands Australia is a family company. They also make Sunraysia fruit juice. Now, Sabrands makes Rosella soups, chutneys, and relishes in Adelaide, South Australia. They make the other condiments in Silvan, Victoria.

See also

• List of brand name condiments
• List of oldest companies in Australia