OK Sauce
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OK Sauce is a fruity brown sauce.
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[edit] Early history
It was first made in a factory called the Chelsea Works (formerly, a swimming pool) in London.
In 1928 production was transferred to a purpose-built factory to the designs of Percy Sharp, at 265 Merton Road , Southfields, in the London Borough of Wandsworth. The company's official title was George Mason & Co Ltd. However, George Mason left the firm before World War 1 and the company was run by the Cooper family, initially by Percy Cooper, then by his son Rex Cooper as Chairman and MD.
[edit] Colmans
Rex's son, Brian, together with Rex's sister Betty Urwin, oversaw the changeover to Colmans. In addition to OK sauce, other sauces and chutneys were made. They also had a satellite factory (called Watersend Condiments) in a converted farm building beside a manor house at Temple Ewell, Dover. This concentrated on horseradish sauce, mint sauce and mint jelly. The factories continued to make sauces until 1969 when the owners of the company sold it off to Reckitt and Colman at Norwich. The products had a Royal Warrant which ceased around the takeover. All production was transferred to Norwich and both factories closed. However, the excellent Art Deco facade of the Southfields building, visible from Merton Road. still exists and has been awarded Grade 2 listing status in August 2002 by the then Secretary of State. (Ref TQ2526 7363 1207/0/10125)[citation needed]
Colmans continued to make OK Sauce but the other condiments were soon discontinued. It is still in production today but is extremely difficult to find. Sainsburys and some other supermarkets dropped supply about 20 years ago but some specialist shops stock it and it is a popular ingredient in Chinese cuisine. The original recipe contained an excellent mix of fruits and spices making it a quality, piquant, fruity sauce. (the author of this information, a Cooper, still has the original recipe). The list of ingredients in the current sauce is very different (less variety of fruit and water now being an ingredient).
[edit] Employees
During the production period until the Southfields closure, there were about 160 employees (including office, sales, and shop floor). Many staff stayed for long periods, some all their working lives, indicating a contented workforce. The main entrance hall, behind the imposing oak double entrance doors, contained various plaques identifying long service staff. Are they there now? A single board showed those having completed 25 years service (over 30) and four individual plaques honoring staff who had completed 50 years service ( one having stayed over 60 years).
[edit] See also
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