In 1915 a chance meeting occurred between an English businessman named Alfred Morris and an American named James Hatmaker, who was trying to set up his patent machines for drying milk on heated rollers for infant feeding.

Morris went to see Lloyd George with a sample of the dried milk to ask whether this would be of interest to the Government in its food policy for the War effect. Lloyd George said it certainly would be and then Morris then set about finding a location and supply of milk.

He decided on Lifton in Devon after Ernest Miller, the landlord of the Arundell Arms (where Morris used to stay on fishing weekends) agreed to help and a site for a 30ft x 20ft building was leased from Great Western Railway Company.

In view of the low standard of living at that time, it was considered that infant nutrition was prime importance and this new baby food was regarded as "food from the gods", hence the decision to name the Company "Ambrosia".

The Creamery at Lifton went into production in 1917 when local farmers with horse and cart delivered the first day's supply of 50 gallons of milk. The Ambrosia Creamery had one vehicle of milk collection, which was a Model T Ford.

Ambrosia Time-Line

 

1917 - Ambrosia was created. Dried milk sold primarily as babyhood.

1923 - Ambrosia was blended with Virol (belonging to Bovril Ltd) for babies or adults as a "pick me up".

1932 - Ambrosia tinned cream sold by Bovril Ltd.

1937 - Launch of Ambrosia Creamed Rice.

1956 - Ambrosia starts advertising.

1960 - Owned by Bovril Ltd.

1971 - Launch of Ambrosia Devon Custard (due to asceptic technology)

1980 - Owned by Beecham Group and Carton custard introduced.

1986 - Single serve pots.

1989 - Ambrosia owned by Bestfoods.

2000 - Unilever Bestfoods merger.

2003 - Premier Foods buys Ambrosia.

2009 - Puds range launches in twin pots.

2012 - Ambrosia Rice Pot Range launches.

2013 - Ambrosia launches Devon Dream.

2014 - Re-branding and re-packaging of Ambrosia full range of products.