Australia’s chocolatiers have shown they’re all heart on Valentine’s Day today.
Adelaide-based confectioner Haigh’s Chocolates — the oldest family-owned chocolate manufacturing retailer in Australia — is once again donating part proceeds of every large milk or dark chocolate heart purchased to Variety - the Children’s Charity.
Meanwhile, fellow Ai Group member Darrell Lea is celebrating the most romantic day on the calendar with the launch of its first heart-shaped chocolate, inspired by the success of its Easter Milk Chocolate Bilby.
Haigh's sells more than 10,000 of its large hearts a year, with about 40 per cent bought in the lead-up to Valentine’s Day.
“By choosing this product, our customers are making more of a difference than they may realise,” spokesperson Fiona Krawczyk said.
Haigh’s has been supporting Variety South Australia and the invaluable work it does to help children who are sick, disadvantaged or living with disability since 2011.
It’s an exciting year for the fourth-generation chocolate maker, with its 110th birthday in May and the official opening of a new $130million factory in Salsbury, South Australia, later this year.
It was on May 1, 1915, when Alfred Haigh opened the first Haigh’s Chocolates on King William St, Adelaide.
The business has remained in the family since, and the legacy seems to be safe for at least another generation with Chief Executive and Joint Managing Director Alister’s son, Charles, in the role of Sales Optimisation Manager.
The chocolatier may be steeped in history, but its eye is very much on the future.
The new factory is the single largest infrastructure investment for the business so far and will allow Haigh’s to double its chocolate production capacity to meet increased demand and interstate growth opportunities.
Darrell Lea also has a long — and romantic — history: Harry Lea, who founded the business in 1957, invented Darrell Lea Rocklea Road and made the first batch as a Valentine’s Day gift for his wife, Esther.
Jennifer Thompson, Technical & Regulatory Manager for Ai Group's Confectionery Sector, said she was looking forward to welcoming both Haigh’s and Darrell Lea to ConTech2025 — the confectionery industry’s premier event — on Tuesday, May 6, in Melbourne.
"Like Valentine's Day, ConTech is an occasion to celebrate the joy that confectionery brings, as well as industry learning,” Ms Thompson said.
“ConTech2025 will feature a dynamic line-up of speakers sharing the latest industry information, a trade exhibition, evening event and networking opportunities.”
The Ai Group Confectionery Sector supports members with confectionery advocacy, news and information and assistance with technical confectionery matters.
Find out more here.
Wendy Larter is Communications Manager at the Australian Industry Group. She has more than 20 years’ experience as a reporter, features writer, contributor and sub-editor for newspapers and magazines including The Courier-Mail in Brisbane and Metro, the News of the World, The Times and Elle in the UK.
