MasterFoods

MasterFoods

Product type	Condiments
Owner	Mars Inc. (1967–present)
Country	Australia
Introduced	1945 (1945)
Markets	Worldwide
Previous owners	Henry Lewis
Website	masterfoods.com.au

MasterFoods is a brand of condiments manufactured by Mars Inc.¹²³⁴⁵ Originally produced by Australian Henry Lewis & Company since 1945,⁶ the brand name "Masterfoods" was acquired by Mars in 1967.⁷

MasterFoods was created by Henry Lewis in Australia in 1945. Originally launched as "Henry Lewis & Company" in 1926,⁶ they began by importing specialty international foods and spices such as paprika, bay leaves and canned asparagus.⁸ The business was renamed to "Henry Lewis & Sons"⁶ and later Masterfoods (also seen as MASTERFOODS, MasterFoods and Master Foods)⁶⁹ on 20 July 1945 and began manufacturing their own products in the 1950s.⁸

Henry Lewis passed the business onto his sons John (born 1920), Victor (born 1923) and David (born 1929) all of whom worked in the business.⁶ John as chairman and managing director, Victor as production director and David as research director.¹⁰ Victor studied food technology in the United States of America, returning in 1949, becoming one of Australia's first food technologists.⁶ The company began manufacturing foods in the 1950s, with the first product being bread and butter cucumbers. During World War II when importation was restricted, the company acted as a distributor for Australian and New Zealand brands.⁶

The brand was sold to Mars Inc. in 1967, and Mars Food Australia was created as a part of the purchase.¹ At the time of sale, Masterfoods had over 150 products and were distributing to 40 countries, 25 percent of turnover was imported goods.⁹