Oss factory to stop making HEMA's rookworst after over 80 years

After more than 80 years, HEMA’s rookworst will soon no longer be made in the iconic factory in Oss. From the autumn, the smoked sausages will come from a different supplier, a spokesperson for the retail chain confirmed to NU.nl. HEMA did not say who would be the new supplier.

HEMA also did not elaborate on the reason for the split, only saying that it could not reach a business agreement with the factory's owner. “This is a business matter between two parties, which we will not go into further.”

Oss is the Netherlands' rookworst capital. In addition to HEMA’s, the Zwanenberg Food Group factory also produces smoked sausages for Unox, among others. It made about 10 million smoked sausages for HEMA per year.

According to HEMA, its rookworst will have the same taste and quality, and the move will not affect the price.

Rookworst production came under pressure in April when the European Union said it would ban the smoke aromas used in some rookworst preparations because they can be harmful. Unox and Zwanenberg Food Group announced that they would look for alternatives in the event of a ban. HEMA’s rookworst were smoked in the traditional way in Oss and, therefore, do not contain added aromas.