Family-owned chocolate maker, Haigh’s Chocolates, has opened its new $120 million production, warehouse and online fulfilment facility in South Australia, enabling the company to almost double its chocolate production.
Haigh’s is celebrating its 110th anniversary this year, and has grown substantially over its history – now employing more than 900 people, with 22 stores across Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and online.
Source: Haigh's Chocolates
The new 18,000 square metre facility located in Salisbury South has been built to support the company’s ongoing expansion and plans for wider distribution. Currently producing 1100 tonnes of chocolate to fulfil the needs of its retail and online stores, the new facility will allow for future growth, including increasing production to 2000 tonnes of chocolate per year.
The company first discussed the facility in 2022, relocating to the food and beverage manufacturing hub of Chidda in North Adelaide and unveiling its 10 year growth plan. Plans for the facility were released in December 2023, with CIP Constructions brought on to oversee the project development.
Haigh’s recently appointed CEO, Peter Millard, said the Salisbury South Complex is a significant physical manifestation of a company-wide investment in people, systems and capabilities over the last four years.
“Today’s opening recognises the completion of our chocolate capacity building phase, the continuing growth of our retail network in the eastern states, and the increasing demand for our chocolate,” said Millard.
Powered by 1180 solar panels, featuring 1.7km of chocolate delivery pipes, and over 5km of linear storage space, the new facility will accommodate up to 400 employees including the creation of approximately 100 new jobs across production, warehousing and fulfilment in the next five years.
As part of the development, Haigh’s invested $30 million in the installation of advanced equipment which includes the introduction of specialised panning, enrobing and moulding lines as well as kitchen and packing equipment that complements its artisan chocolate making capabilities.
Haigh’s owner and brand ambassador, Alister Haigh, said: “In the last five months alone, we celebrated our 110-year anniversary, opened our seventh store in Sydney and appointed a new CEO. 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”.
