Purity Factories Limited began creating quality food products in 1924. It was in that year that three St. John’s businessmen – C.C. Pratt, A.E. Hickman, and W.R. Goobie – purchased a local confectionery and soft drink company, and began production of what were to become instant classics – Peppermint Nobs, candy kisses, and flavoured syrups. Using traditional recipes and only the finest quality ingredients, Purity became the sole producer of hard bread, a staple of the local diet which was used by fishermen as a bread substitute on their long journeys out to sea.

It is also the main ingredient in the traditional dish known as “Fish and Brewis”. The triumph of Hard Bread was followed by the development of classic recipes for a variety of British-style crackers and biscuits – Cream Crackers, Ginger Snaps, and other light-tasting snacks. The quality put into creating these products drew an even wider audience, and soon these, too, became company trademarks.