Haigh’s Chocolates has officially opened a new $120 million production, warehouse and online fulfilment facility in Salisbury South, South Australia, marking what the company says is the largest investment in its 110-year history.
The 18,000-square-metre site has been built to support the business’s long-term expansion, with capacity to increase annual chocolate production from 1,100 tonnes to 2,000 tonnes as demand continues to grow, the company said in a news release.
Haigh’s Chocolates Chief Executive Officer Peter Millard said the new facility represents a major step forward for the family-owned manufacturer.
“The Salisbury South Complex is a significant physical manifestation of a company-wide investment in people, systems and capabilities over the last four years,” Millard said.
“[The] opening recognises the completion of our chocolate capacity building phase, the continuing growth of our retail network in the eastern states and the meeting of increasing demand of our chocolate.”
The South Australian-owned business currently operates 22 stores across Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra, in addition to its online store.
The company said it recently expanded its retail footprint with the opening of its Broadway store in Sydney earlier this month.
Owner and Brand Ambassador Alister Haigh said the milestone reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to serving chocolate lovers across Australia.
“In the last five months alone, we celebrated our 110-year anniversary, opened our seventh store in Sydney and appointed a new CEO,” Haigh said.
“It’s been an exciting time for the business and I am so proud to see the love for our chocolates continue to span all generations.”
The new complex incorporates 1,180 solar panels, 1.7 kilometres of chocolate delivery pipes and more than 5 kilometres of linear storage space.
Haigh’s Chocolates said the facility will employ up to 400 people, with around 100 new jobs expected to be created in production, warehousing and fulfilment over the next five years.
As part of the development, the company said it invested $30 million in advanced equipment, including specialised panning, enrobing and moulding lines, as well as upgraded kitchen and packing technology to complement its artisan chocolate-making processes.
