Rakusen's is a British kosher food manufacturer established in 1900 in

Leeds Leeds () is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds district in West Yorkshire, England. It is built around the River Aire and is in the eastern foothills of the Pennines. It is also the third-largest settlement (by popula ...

, where it continues to operate today. Although best known for its

matzo Matzah or matzo ( he, מַצָּה, translit=maṣṣā'','' pl. matzot or Ashk. matzos) is an unleavened flatbread that is part of Jewish cuisine and forms an integral element of the Passover festival, during which '' chametz'' ( leaven ...

, matzo meal and matzo crackers, it also produces

soups Soup is a primarily liquid food, generally served warm or hot (but may be cool or cold), that is made by combining ingredients of meat or vegetables with stock, milk, or water. Hot soups are additionally characterized by boiling solid ingr ...

beans A bean is the seed of several plants in the family Fabaceae, which are used as vegetables for human or animal food. They can be cooked in many different ways, including boiling, frying, and baking, and are used in many traditional dishes thr ...

, Tomor margarine, and other products. Rakusen's was founded by a watch maker, Lloyd Rakusen, who started from baking matzos in his own back room and grew to form a factory in the city of Leeds, eventually passing the thriving company onto his family in 1944 on his death. Rakusen's is owned by Andrew Simpson, who took over the company in 2015.Rakusen's Limited - People
/ref> Rakusen's products are all approved by the

London Beth Din The London Beth Din (LBD) is the Ashkenazi Beth Din of the United Synagogue, the largest Ashkenazi synagogal body in London, England. In its capacity as ''Court of the Chief Rabbi'', it is historically the supreme halakhic Authority for Ashken ...

. Most British supermarkets stock some Rakusen's products all year, and special Passover matzo at

Passover Passover, also called Pesach (; ), is a major Jewish holiday that celebrates the Biblical story of the Israelites escape from slavery in Egypt, which occurs on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan, the first month of Aviv, or spring. ...

. Many of Rakusen's products are also popular with

vegetarians Vegetarianism is the practice of abstaining from the consumption of meat (red meat, poultry, seafood, insects, and the flesh of any other animal). It may also include abstaining from eating all by-products of animal slaughter. Vegetarianism ma ...

and

vegans Veganism is the practice of abstaining from the use of animal product—particularly in diet—and an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals. An individual who follows the diet or philosophy is known as a vegan. D ...

References

Food manufacturers of the United Kingdom Food and drink companies established in 1900 Matzo Kosher food 1900 establishments in England Manufacturing companies based in Leeds Jews and Judaism in the United Kingdom Jews and Judaism in England {{food-company-stub