HISTORY OF RYVITA

1925

The Ryvita Company started trading on 4th April 1925

An enterprising Englishman, John Edwin Garratt, having seen crispbread abroad, started a venture in this country. The Ryvita Company started trading on 4th April 1925.

1932

British bakery set up

At first, we imported our rye crispbreads from Sweden. But, in 1932, a bakery was set up in Birmingham, producing one of the first ‘packaged goods’ in the baking field.

1940

Ryvita Advert

1940

The first Ryvita tin

We sold our first iconic Ryvita tin.

1949

Building factory

1949

A new bakery was built in Poole

A new bakery was built in Poole, after the Birmingham bakery was destroyed in a bombing raid in World War II.

1949

In 1949 Garfield Weston bought The Ryvita Company which was the start of a close family involvement that still continues today. Ryvita became part of Garfield’s then company Associated British Foods.

1951

1956 - 1965

Due to war time paper rationing there was little advertising until the 1950’s. It was in this decade that Ryvita’s ads became truly iconic, starting with Dior’s ‘New Look’ which virtually turned RYVITA® into a fashion accessory.

1961

Ryvita was photographed on the summit of Mount Everest as a thank you for providing the daily bread for intrepid explorers.

1974

Ryvita bakery expansion

The original bakery expanded in 1971 and again in 1974, making it the largest single span building in Europe at that time.

1975

In 1975, the range was broadened beyond the ‘Original’ with the introduction of a brown, ‘Swedish-style’ product.

1980

Crackerbread was launched in the 1980’s.

1998

The Launch of Fruit Crunch

Spring 1998 saw a total departure from the savoury varieties to a ‘Sweeter Ryvita ... Currant Crunch’. This contained currants, and was sprinkled with honey, sugar, oats and wheat flour (known as Fruit Crunch today!)

2002

Four varieties of snack-sized crispbread, Ryvita Mini’s, were launched: Mature Cheddar and Onion, Tomato Salsa, Cream Cheese and Chives and Garlic and Herb.

2008

Stop making the garlic and rosemary Crispbreads

We were banned from baking our garlic and rosemary Crispbreads after local residents complained about the smell!

2008

Ryvita Thins are here!

We launched our delicious flatbread range, Ryvita Thins.

2017

Ryvita Rye Cakes are here!

We launched our brand new Rye Cakes made from popped wholegrain Rye.

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