Haigh's Chocolates facts for kids
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| Private | |
| Industry | Confectionery |
| Founded | 1915 |
| Founder | Alfred E. Haigh |
| Headquarters | , |
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Area served
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Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, online (Australia) |
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Key people
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Claude Haigh (CEO: 1933-1959) John Haigh (CEO: 1959-1990) |
| Products | Chocolates |
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Number of employees
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800+ |
| Parent | AE Haigh Pty Ltd |
Haigh's Chocolates is a famous Australian company. It makes delicious chocolates from scratch, meaning they start with cocoa beans! It's a family-owned business based in Adelaide, South Australia. Alfred E. Haigh started the company on May 1, 1915. Today, you can find their shops in many cities like Canberra, Melbourne, and Sydney.
Contents
The Sweet History of Haigh's
Alfred Ernest Haigh was born in Adelaide in 1877. He opened his very first chocolate shop on May 1, 1915. It was on King William Street in Adelaide. A few years later, in 1922, the shop moved to a famous spot called Beehive Corner. This corner is where Rundle Mall and King William Street meet.
When Alfred Haigh passed away in 1933, his son, Claude Alfred Haigh, took over. Claude was the managing director until he retired in 1959. The inside of the Beehive Corner shop still looks much like it did when it first opened!
Alfred's grandson, John Haigh, became the managing director in 1959. He wanted to make even more chocolate. So, he traveled to Switzerland to learn from the famous chocolate makers at Lindt & Sprüngli. He brought new ideas and ways of making chocolate back to Australia. John Haigh led the company until 1990.
In the 1950s and 1960s, Haigh's chocolates were sold in movie theaters. People called "Tray Girls" and "Tray Boys" would walk around selling them. When fewer people went to the movies, Haigh's decided to open shops in Melbourne. This helped their popular business grow even more.
Haigh's Chocolate Shops
Haigh's Chocolates has many stores across Australia. You can find their yummy treats in several cities.
Shops in South Australia
South Australia has seven Haigh's stores. Three of these are in the heart of Adelaide city centre. This includes the historic Beehive Corner store in Rundle Mall. There is also a shop at the Adelaide Central Market. Haigh's also has a Visitor Centre store. This store is next to their factory in Parkside. You can even take tours there to see how chocolate is made!
Shops in Melbourne
Melbourne is home to six Haigh's stores. Three are in the city's main business area. One of these is a special flagship store in the beautiful Block Arcade. The newest store in Melbourne is on Elizabeth Street. You can also find Haigh's shops in the suburbs of Hawthorn, Eastland, and Toorak.
Shops in Sydney and Canberra
There are six Haigh's stores in Sydney. These are located in famous places like the Queen Victoria Building and The Strand Arcade. You can also find them in Chatswood, Westfield Bondi Junction, Westfield Miranda, and Castle Towers. In Canberra, there is a Haigh's store in the Canberra Centre. Since October 2014, Haigh's has also sold its chocolates online. This means people all over Australia can enjoy them!
Future of Chocolate Making
In December 2023, Haigh's Chocolates shared exciting news. They plan to open a brand new factory in Salisbury South by late 2025. This factory will be very large, about 15,000 square meters. It is expected to help Haigh's make twice as much chocolate. They could go from making 1,000 tonnes to 2,000 tonnes of chocolate each year!
Delicious Chocolate Products
Haigh's makes many different kinds of chocolate treats. They have regular chocolate bars and blocks. They also sell loose chocolates, which means you can pick your favorites. Plus, they create special chocolates for holidays and gifts.
Awards and Special Recognition
Haigh's Chocolates has received awards for their great products. In 2022, the company won a special award. It was a consumer award at the South Australian Premier’s Food and Beverage Industry Awards. This shows that customers really love their chocolates!
Haigh's and the Environment
Haigh's Chocolates cares about where their cocoa comes from. They support a group called Alternative Communities Trade in Vanuatu (ACTIV). This group helps local chocolate companies like Aelan and cocoa bean farmers in Vanuatu. Haigh's has even made a special chocolate bar using only cocoa beans from Vanuatu.
Rabbits were brought to Australia by European settlers a long time ago. Since the late 1800s, they have caused problems for the environment and farms. To help with this, Haigh's has sold a chocolate Easter Bilby since Easter 1993. This is a native Australian animal, and it's an alternative to the Easter Bunny. Part of the money from selling these chocolate bilbies goes to the Foundation for Rabbit Free Australia. This foundation works to control rabbit populations.
See also
- List of South Australian manufacturing businesses
- South Australian food and drink
