Rakusen's

What Rakusen's does

Rakusen's (legal entity: Rakusens Limited) is a privately held UK food manufacturer founded in 1900 by Lloyd Rakusen in Leeds, Yorkshire. The company produces a portfolio of more than 35 stock-keeping units spanning matzos, flame-baked crackers, biscuits, margarines, ambient soups, and baked beans, with simultaneous certification across Kosher, Vegan, Vegetarian, and Gluten-Free categories. Its core production technology is flame-baking oven processing for crackers and a dedicated Kosher-for-Passover production line featuring Passover-only flour, an additional water cooling unit ("mayim shelonu"), and continuously cleaned roller brushes to maintain religious compliance. All products are made under orthodox rabbinical supervision from milling of wheat to packet sealing, certified by the London Beth Din.

The business operates a multi-channel go-to-market model. Wholesale supply to the full set of major UK supermarket chains — Asda, Tesco, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Waitrose, and Ocado — generates the bulk of revenue, supplemented by premium listings at Harrods and Fortnum & Mason under the Bonn's & Co sub-brand, a network of regional wholesale distributors (Mehadrin, Schwartz, Goldsteins, Boyko, Hymans, Stenhouse, Pettywood, DW Holley, Moortown Deli), a direct-to-consumer e-commerce store at rakusens.co.uk, and an international storefront at rakusens.faire.com. The company is a member of the European Snack Association (ESMA) and partners with deliciouslyorkshire for regional marketing.

Rakusen's customer base is split between the Jewish community (the original primary segment, served by Kosher-certified matzos and crackers), health-conscious and low-calorie snacking consumers (e.g., 99% Crackers at 1% fat), vegan and vegetarian consumers, gluten-free consumers, and general UK grocery shoppers reached through supermarket listings. The company remains privately held under the Rakusen family name with no disclosed institutional funding, no disclosed revenue, and no published headcount. Its primary marketing channels are organic social (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), a recipe-based content blog, email newsletter, and food trade show participation (Gulfood Dubai, Great Yorkshire Show).

Name

Rakusen's

Legal name

Rakusens Limited

Website

https://rakusens.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1900

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Rakusen's is a 125-year-old privately held UK food manufacturer in Leeds producing flame-baked crackers, matzos, biscuits, soups, and margarines certified Kosher, Vegan, Vegetarian, and Gluten-Free, distributed through all major UK supermarkets, premium retailers, and wholesale channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Leeds

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct Consumer Sales: Rakusen's operates their own e-commerce store selling products directly to consumers with free UK delivery. International orders are facilitated through rakusens.faire.com.
2. Retail Distribution: Products sold through major UK supermarket chains including Asda, Tesco, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Waitrose, and Ocado. Revenue generated through wholesale supply to retailers.
3. Wholesale Distribution: Products distributed through wholesale channels including Mehadrin London, Schwartz London, Goldsteins London, Boyko Manchester, Hymans Manchester, Stenhouse Gateshead, Pettywood Andover, Moortown Deli Leeds, and DW Holley Bristol.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Rakusen's manufactures and sells traditional kosher and dietary-specific food products including flame-baked crackers, matzos, biscuits, ambient soups, baked beans, and margarines. The company produces its goods in Leeds, Yorkshire under orthodox rabbinical supervision, with dedicated lines for Kosher, Vegan, Vegetarian, and Gluten-Free consumers. Products are distributed through UK supermarket chains, the company's own e-commerce store, wholesale distributors, and international channels.

Product overview

Rakusen's is a UK-based food manufacturer based in Leeds, Yorkshire, producing crackers, matzos, biscuits, soups, and spreads since 1900. The core product portfolio centers on their traditional flame-baked crackers and matzos, including the flagship 'Big Blue' Traditional Matzos, Hi-Baked Crackers with Yorkshire heritage, and various specialty matzos for Passover. The company serves multiple dietary requirements with dedicated lines for Kosher, Vegan, Vegetarian, and Gluten-Free consumers. Beyond core crackers, the product range extends to biscuits (Chocolate Oaties, Ginger Biscuits, Oatie Crunch), baking ingredients (Matzo Meal in Fine and Medium grades, Farina Potato Flour), Tomor branded margarines, and ambient soups and baked beans. Products are distributed through major UK retailers including Tesco, Morrisons, Sainsburys, Waitrose, Ocado, and Asda, as well as wholesale channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bonn's & Co: A range of original, mini and gluten free crackers launched for retail in UK and US markets including Harrods and Fortnum & Mason

Products and services

• Traditional Matzos (Big Blue) The flagship wheat flour matzo cracker, versatile for snacking, lunch treats, and as a base for toppings like matzo pizza. Suitable for vegetarians and the foundation of the Rakusen's matzo range.
• Passover Matzos
• Matzo Crackers
• Hi-Baked Cracker Original flame-baked cracker baked longer in Yorkshire for a richer, deeper colour and flavour, representing the company's Yorkshire heritage.
• 99% Crackers – Herb & Onion Low fat wheat crackers at just 1% fat content and 18 calories per cracker, made from 100% natural ingredients with no additives or preservatives.
• Vegan Water Biscuit Flame-baked water biscuit made to the same local recipe for over 100 years, certified vegan and vegetarian with dairy-free formulation.
• Gluten Free Matzo Large gluten-free matzo low in fat, sugar and salt, suitable as a base for various toppings and can be used as a mini pizza base under the grill.
• Matzo Meal (Medium) Traditional wheat flour matzo meal ideal for fritters, crunchy biscuits and sponge cakes, containing less than 2% fat with no added salt.
• Fine Matzo Meal Fine-textured matzo meal made only from wheat flour and water, ideal for Passover recipes including fritters, crunchy biscuits and sponge cakes.
• Farina Potato Flour Kosher for Passover potato flour that is less than 1% fat and gluten-free, suitable for Passover table recipes year-round.
• Chocolate Oaties Traditional home-baked style chocolate oat biscuits featuring rolled oats and chocolate with minimum 52% cocoa solids.
• Ginger Biscuits Biscuits baked with finest ginger, perfect served with a cup of tea for afternoon tea or as a treat anytime.
• Oatie Crunch Biscuits Biscuits filled with delicious oats providing a delightful crunch where wholesome oats meet irresistible texture in every bite.
• Tomor Vegetarian Margarine Kosher margarine low in trans fatty acids suitable for vegetarians, vegans, coeliacs, and those with nut allergies. Approved kosher under KLBD supervision.
• Snackers Range Range of multi-bag and 85g snack crackers available in regular and gluten-free varieties, sold through major UK retailers.
• Soup Range Range of ambient soups including Thick Pea, Carrot & Lentil, Thick Vegetable, Tuscan Bean, and Tomato & Basil varieties, available from major retailers.
• Baked Beans Kosher baked beans available from retailers including Tesco, Morrisons, Sainsburys, and Waitrose.
• Bonn's & Co Crackers A range of original, mini and gluten-free crackers launched for retail in UK and US markets including Harrods and Fortnum & Mason.

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• deliciouslyorkshireminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRakusen's is proud to be associated with deliciouslyorkshire, an organization that celebrates the very best in regional produce from Yorkshire. The site champions locally sourced, locally produced food and drink while actively encouraging artisan producers, farm shops, delis, cafes, and restaurants.
• European Snack Association (ESMA)minorOthersRakusen's is a member of ESMA, the European Snack Association, which represents the snack industry and promotes industry standards and interests.
• London Beth DincoreOthersKosher products are certified kosher for Passover by the London Beth Din and other ecclesiastical societies. Products are made under orthodox rabbinical supervision from milling of wheat to sealing of packet.
• Mehadrin (London)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWholesale distributor of Rakusen's products in London
• Schwartz (London)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWholesale distributor of Rakusen's products in London
• Goldsteins (London)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWholesale distributor of Rakusen's products in London
• Boyko (Manchester)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWholesale distributor of Rakusen's products in Manchester
• Hymans (Manchester)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWholesale distributor of Rakusen's products in Manchester
• Stenhouse (Gateshead)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWholesale distributor of Rakusen's products in Gateshead
• Pettywood (Andover)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWholesale distributor of Rakusen's products in Andover
• Moortown Deli (Leeds)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal retailer of Rakusen's products in Leeds
• DW Holley (Bristol)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWholesale distributor of Rakusen's products in Bristol

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Huntley & Palmers: Historic UK biscuit brand (founded 1822) with a heritage positioning similar to Rakusen's. Comparable biscuit/cracker product category and UK retail distribution, though it operates as a much larger legacy brand.
• Ryvita: UK crispbread and cracker brand owned by Associated British Foods. Competes in the health-conscious cracker segment with Rakusen's 99% Crackers and matzo crackers in major UK supermarkets.
• McVitie's (Pladis): UK's largest biscuit brand (Digestives, Hobnobs) and a Pladis sibling alongside Carr's and Jacob's. Competes with Rakusen's biscuit range (Chocolate Oaties, Ginger, Oatie Crunch) in UK supermarket biscuit aisles.
• Osem Group: Israeli kosher food conglomerate producing matzos, crackers, biscuits, soups, and other categories that closely mirror Rakusen's portfolio. Much larger scale with global distribution and the parent of the Osem UK operation.
• Carr's (Pladis / United Biscuits): Major UK cracker brand (Carr's Table Water Crackers) owned by Pladis. Comparable product category and UK retail distribution, but a broader incumbent with substantially larger market share.
• Jacob's (Pladis / United Biscuits): Iconic UK cracker brand (Cream Crackers, Crackerthins) owned by Pladis. Competes in the same UK supermarket cracker aisles as Rakusen's but at vastly larger scale and broader portfolio.

Direct peers

• Streit's: US kosher matzo and cracker producer (founded 1925) with a similar heritage positioning to Rakusen's. Comparable matzo-led product mix sold through retail and wholesale channels in the kosher category.
• Manischewitz: Largest US kosher food brand producing matzos, crackers, and baked goods. Directly comparable product category (matzos and crackers) with similar kosher-certification positioning; operates primarily in the US rather than UK.
• Osem (UK): UK arm of Israeli kosher food group Osem, distributing matzos, crackers, and other kosher items. Directly competes with Rakusen's on UK supermarket kosher aisles with an overlapping product mix and customer segment.

Emerging players

• Yehuda Matzo Company: US kosher and gluten-free matzo producer. Comparable specialty dietary positioning and matzo focus, but smaller scale and primarily US-market oriented.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rakusensuk
• Facebookfacebook.com/RakusensYorkshire
• Instagraminstagram.com/rakusens

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rakusen's