August Oetker
Encyclopedia
Dr. August Oetker was born in Obernkirchen
, Germany
and died in Bielefeld
, Germany
. He invented baking powder
, although Alfred Bird
of England is also credited with inventing baking powder in 1843. In 1891, he bought the Aschoffsche pharmacy in Bielefeld
and developed a baking agent, which was designed to ensure the success of the baking process.
From 1893, Oetker distributed his invention under the brand name Backin, thus laying the basis for the family-owned company, called Oetker-Gruppe. This company still uses the very same recipe to produce baking powder. On September 21, 1903, Oetker filed a patent for his Procedure for making long-lasting baking powder or ready-to-bake flour.
Due to successful marketing, Oetker's products sold quite well and soon the old pharmacy had turned into a successful company. In 1900, Oetker built his first manufacturing plant and by 1906 had sold 50 million packages of Backin.
Prior to Oetker, Justus von Liebig
and his American student, Eben Horsford, had already discovered baking powder. However, Oetker targeted mainly private households with his products whereas Horsford targeted bakeries.
Later, Oetker's grandson Rudolf August Oetker
took over the company.
Motto: "Ein heller Kopf nimmt stets Oetker." ("Bright minds always use Oetker.").
Obernkirchen
Obernkirchen is a town in the district of Schaumburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approximately 8 km southwest of Stadthagen, and 15 km east of Minden....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and died in Bielefeld
Bielefeld
Bielefeld is an independent city in the Ostwestfalen-Lippe Region in the north-east of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. With a population of 323,000, it is also the most populous city in the Regierungsbezirk Detmold...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. He invented baking powder
Baking powder
Baking powder is a dry chemical leavening agent used to increase the volume and lighten the texture of baked goods such as muffins, cakes, scones and American-style biscuits. Baking powder works by releasing carbon dioxide gas into a batter or dough through an acid-base reaction, causing bubbles in...
, although Alfred Bird
Alfred Bird
Alfred Bird was a British food manufacturer and chemist. He was born in Nympsfield, Gloucestershire, England in 1811 was the inventor of a series of food products mostly now taken for granted...
of England is also credited with inventing baking powder in 1843. In 1891, he bought the Aschoffsche pharmacy in Bielefeld
Bielefeld
Bielefeld is an independent city in the Ostwestfalen-Lippe Region in the north-east of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. With a population of 323,000, it is also the most populous city in the Regierungsbezirk Detmold...
and developed a baking agent, which was designed to ensure the success of the baking process.
From 1893, Oetker distributed his invention under the brand name Backin, thus laying the basis for the family-owned company, called Oetker-Gruppe. This company still uses the very same recipe to produce baking powder. On September 21, 1903, Oetker filed a patent for his Procedure for making long-lasting baking powder or ready-to-bake flour.
Due to successful marketing, Oetker's products sold quite well and soon the old pharmacy had turned into a successful company. In 1900, Oetker built his first manufacturing plant and by 1906 had sold 50 million packages of Backin.
Prior to Oetker, Justus von Liebig
Justus von Liebig
Justus von Liebig was a German chemist who made major contributions to agricultural and biological chemistry, and worked on the organization of organic chemistry. As a professor, he devised the modern laboratory-oriented teaching method, and for such innovations, he is regarded as one of the...
and his American student, Eben Horsford, had already discovered baking powder. However, Oetker targeted mainly private households with his products whereas Horsford targeted bakeries.
Later, Oetker's grandson Rudolf August Oetker
Rudolf August Oetker
Rudolf August Oetker was a German entrepreneur who became a billionaire running his private food company Oetker-Gruppe....
took over the company.
See also
- Dr. OetkerDr. OetkerDr. Oetker is a German company that produces baking powder, cake mixes, yogurts, frozen pizza and pudding.Also included in the portfolio are a maritime freight business, a bank, a publishing company, an insurance outfit, a brewery and a number of high class hotels all over...