Haigh's Chocolates' new $120million manufacturing facility in South Australia is a celebration of vision and progress, Australian Industry Group's Confectionery Sector Head, Tim Piper, said today.
The 18,000m2 production, warehouse and online fulfillment facility in Salisbury South will support the confectioner's ongoing expansion and plans for wider distribution.
Haigh's — Australia's oldest family-owned chocolate maker — currently produces 1100 tonnes of chocolate for its 22 retail and online stores. The new facility will allow for future growth, including increasing production to 2000 tonnes of chocolate a year.
Mr Piper, who is also Australian Industry Group's Head of Victoria, attended the official opening of the state-of-the-art facility this morning.
He said the expansion signalled a significant vote of confidence for the fourth-generation, 110-year-old family-owned company.
"Australian Industry Group congratulates Haigh's on this achievement," Mr Piper said.
"The factory not only brings new jobs and economic growth to the region but also showcases the kind of forward thinking and sustainable practices that will define the future of Australia's confectionery industry.
"Today's opening is more than a celebration of bricks and mortar — it's a celebration of vision and progress.
"I congratulate Alister, Simon and the whole Haigh's family for their foresight and commitment to innovation, tradition and excellence.
"As Australian Industry Group continues to support businesses across the country, we remain committed to fostering collaboration between government, industry and education to ensure our manufacturing sector remains globally competitive and locally impactful," Mr Piper said.
Estha van der Linden, Australian Industry Group's Head of South Australia, added: "Haigh's Chocolates has been a beloved South Australian brand for more than a century, and this state-of-the-art facility is a significant commitment to the local economy and excellence in food production."
Powered by 1180 solar panels featuring 1.7km of chocolate-delivery pipes and more than 5km of linear storage space, the new facility will accommodate up to 400 employees including those in approximately 100 new jobs across production, warehousing and fulfilment over the next five years.
