...there was a Swiss chemist called Dr. George Wander. In 1904, he was investigating the nutritional qualities of barley malt and discovered it was packed with complex carbohydrates and naturally occurring vitamins.

Dr. Wander tried combining the barley malt with some other nutritious ingredients including milk, egg, and cocoa. The result was Ovaltine, a nourishing daily drink for children.

Champion of the underprivileged!

Ovaltine was launched as the first convenient and complete milk fortifier to provide hot nutritional drinks to strengthen under-nourished children, breastfeeding women, the weak, and the infirm.

Prescribed by doctors for its high nutritional value, it quickly became a success in Switzerland. And by 1909, the UK started its love affair with this delicious and miraculous nutritional drink.

In today's world Ovaltine is even more relevant than ever. Both easy to make and full of wholesome nutritious ingredients, it suits people with busy active lives who care about their own health and that of their family.

…and today?

Ovaltine has been in the hearts and minds of the British public for many decades. And as families everywhere grow and change, we will continue to develop new and exciting products, while remaining true to the Ovaltine legacy of health and nutrition.

10 important dates

1904 - Swiss chemist, Dr. Wander, invents Ovaltine
1909 - Ovaltine is launched in the UK
1913 - The first Ovaltine press ad appears
1919-20 Exports begin to Australia, then to India, South Africa and other parts of the British Empire
1932 - Ovaltine is served to athletes at the Olympic Games
1935 - The Ovaltineys make their first broadcast
1953 - Sir Edmund Hilary uses Ovaltine when climbing Everest
1974 - The Ovaltine 'lady' is reintroduced on new packaging
1997 - Ovaltine Power (hot chocolate) is launched
2005 - Max 4 Milk is launched