Whittaker's facts for kids
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| Private limited liability company | |
| Industry | Chocolatier |
| Founded | Christchurch, 1896 |
| Founder | J.H. Whittaker |
| Headquarters | |
| Owner | Whittaker family |
J.H. Whittaker & Sons, Ltd (Whittaker's) is a confectionery manufacturer specialising in palm oil-free chocolate and based in Porirua, New Zealand. Whittaker's is the largest chocolate brand in New Zealand, Approximately 30% of their production is now exported. The company controls its entire manufacturing process in its facility in Porirua, calling itself a "bean-to-bar" manufacturer. James Henry Whittaker started the business in Christchurch in 1896 and it was later moved to Wellington.
History
James Henry Whittaker worked in the British confectionery industry at the age of 14 and moved to Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1890. Six years later he started manufacturing chocolate confectionery, selling it directly to customers using horse and van. In 1913, he established a partnership with his two sons, Ronald and James, based in Wellington. The business became a limited liability company in 1937, with third-generation Whittakers still the sole shareholders in the company. In 1992 the company formed J.H. Whittaker New Zealand Ltd.
The company has provided commercial sponsorship for motor sports in New Zealand as well as for the All Blacks.
The company's marketing phrases include "A passion for chocolate since 1896" and "Good honest chocolate"and also "from bean to bar". In 2011 it was listed as New Zealand's third most trusted brand by Bradley Colman survey. They improved their standing to 1st in the 2012 edition.
In May 2014 celebrity chef Nigella Lawson filmed an advert for Whittaker's in the 1930s Wellington railway station.
In June 2014, Whittaker's expanded its market to Malaysia.
In 2019 Whittaker's admitted that while some bars have ethically sources cocoa beans, the sugar is primarily sourced from Thailand. Thailand is known to have child labour in the sugar cane industry.
