Motions

Haigh's Chocolates

The Hon. J.S. LEE (16:01): I move:

That this council—

1. Congratulates South Australian icon Haigh’s Chocolates on celebrating its 110th anniversary in 2025;

2. Acknowledges that Haigh’s Chocolates remains a proudly family-owned business, led by fourth-generation family members, Alister and Simon Haigh, who are dedicated to maintaining the company’s legacy of quality and innovation;

3. Celebrates the company’s outstanding business success and its growth to a globally recognised brand, with 21 stores Australia-wide, a successful online store, and more than 950 staff members, that remains dedicated to manufacturing in South Australia;

4. Commends Haigh’s Chocolates for its longstanding positive impact on the South Australian economy, local employment and its significant contributions to philanthropic community initiatives; and

5. Recognises that the new facility in Salisbury South set to officially open in late 2025 is the largest investment in the company’s history, incorporating manufacturing, fulfilment, and warehousing, and is expected to provide additional employment opportunities along with capacity to double its chocolate production to 2,000 tonnes per year.

I rise today to move a motion in celebration of a true South Australian icon, Haigh's Chocolates, as it marks its 110^th anniversary in 2025. Just imagine how much Haigh's chocolate would have been consumed in the 110 years by Australians and internationally. Honourable members may like to know a few interesting statistics. Australians consumed a total of 163,000 tonnes of chocolate in the 2023-24 financial year, which is more than three times the steel weight equivalent of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Not surprisingly, Australia is among the top global consumers of chocolate and Haigh's Chocolates certainly play a role in this success.

This anniversary is a significant milestone not only for Haigh's Chocolates, but the Haigh's family, and is also a powerful testament to South Australian entrepreneurship. For all the chocoholics out there, this is more than just a sweet story of success; it highlights our state's manufacturing excellence, the leadership shown by the private sector, and the confidence and resilience to invest in local industry.

Haigh's continued expansion creates valuable employment opportunities, drives economic development in the food and beverage sector, and positions the brand as a true Australian icon with growing international recognition. I am certain that every member in this chamber has at some point enjoyed the unmistakable great taste of Haigh's Chocolates, a brand that has become a household name and part of the fabric of South Australian life.

Today, I want to reflect on the origins of this remarkable story. In the heart of Adelaide, a young entrepreneur named Alfred Haigh open a small chocolate shop that would go on to become a national treasure. The 1915 opening of the first Haigh's store, selling both chocolates and confectionery, located in the Beehive Corner building on the corner of Rundle Mall and King William Street, was the start of this great journey. This iconic building is still home to one of the many Haigh's stores in South Australia.

Not long after opening, Alfred experimented with local apricots, fondant and dark chocolate, creating what would become one of Haigh's most beloved treats: Haigh's apricot fruit. These are now recognised as a South Australian state heritage icon. As demand grew, Alfred expanded operations to Parkside where a modest factory was built beside the family home, a site that still welcomes visitors today. Continued growth meant that the original store became too small, prompting a move in 1923 to the current location within the Beehive Corner building.

By the 1920s, Haigh's had become a fixture in Adelaide life, from Easter celebrations to footy at the Oval, where their chocolates were a match-day staple for over 50 years. When Alfred passed, his son Claude—already a steady hand in the business—stepped up to lead Haigh's through the hardship of the Great Depression and wartime rationing. Under Claude's steady leadership, the business endured.

The next chapter began with Claude's son, John Haigh, Alfred's grandson, who brought fresh eyes and global inspiration to the family's brand and business. After training with the Swiss chocolatier Lindt & Sprüngli and travelling home through the United States, John studied retail innovation, returning home with a vision: to elevate Haigh's into a premium chocolate experience. As televisions ventured into our homes and cinemas filled with moviegoers, Haigh's found new ways to delight. Tray boys offered chocolates in theatres, and new stores opened across South Australia. By its 50^th anniversary, Haigh's had crossed the border and opened its first Melbourne store, introducing Victoria to its signature sweetness.

The 1970s saw the fourth generation step into the fold. Simon and Alister Haigh joined the business, learning every aspect of the craft and culture. At the time, the company was still small—fewer than 50 employees—but the seeds of future growth were already being sown. This spirit of innovation and adaptability continues to this day and is reflected in the words of current CEO Alister Haigh. In a recent interview marking the company's 110^th anniversary, Alister reflected on the company's enduring legacy and its ability to adapt through changing times. He said:

We've had to evolve with the times—television changed the way people shopped, so we moved from theatre stands to retail stores. And when refrigerated trucks didn't exist, we built our own to get chocolate to Melbourne.

These stories are a testament to the ingenuity and resilience that have defined Haigh's for over a century.

Even today the company faces challenges, such as the tripling of cocoa prices in recent years, yet they continue to innovate and grow, offering over 300 varieties of chocolate and keeping customers engaged with new flavours and experiences, including some of the most exquisite packaging to promote their brand. Some of the most enduring favourites include milk chocolate speckles, frogs and scorched almonds—may I say that they are actually my all-time favourite—products that have delighted generations and become synonymous with the Haigh's brand and the Haigh's name.

Building on this legacy of adaptation, the 1980s brought a wave of innovation. Haigh's began crafting seasonal collections, such as Valentine's Day hearts, Easter delights and indulgent truffles. These were not just chocolates: they were gifts, special moments shared among family and friends, gestures and traditions in the making. By the 1990s, Haigh's had become more than a chocolatier; it was a tourism destination. The Parkside visitor centre opened its doors, offering behind-the-scenes tours that quickly grew in popularity. What began with two tours a day soon became nine, and locals and tourists alike came to see the magic behind the chocolate-making.

As the new millennium unfolded, Haigh's continued to win hearts beyond South Australia. In 2005, Sydney welcomed its first Haigh's store, and with the launch of the online store in 2014 chocolate lovers across the country could enjoy their favourites with just a few clicks. The brand's reach expanded, but its heart remained firmly rooted in Adelaide. Although they do not have any offices overseas, every single traveller who loves the Australian brand has certainly bought Haigh's Chocolates for all their family and friends internationally, so the brand has become known internationally as well.

In 2018, Haigh's made a bold investment in its future, opening the largest cocoa bean processing plant in Australia, at Mile End. This facility allowed Haigh's to craft its chocolate from bean to bar, deepening its commitment to quality and setting a new standard for Australian chocolate-making. Today, Haigh's remains proudly family-owned, with fourth-generation custodians Alister and Simon Hague at the helm. Guided by an independent board, they honour the company's heritage while embracing sustainability and innovation, ensuring that Haigh's continues to thrive in a changing world.

Haigh's Chocolates have received numerous accolades, including being named the winner of the Consumer Choice Award at the 2024 South Australian Premier's Food and Beverage Industry Awards. They also received the Business Excellence Award at the same event in 2023. Additionally, Alister Haigh, CEO of Haigh's Chocolates, was awarded the Alfred Stauder Award for Excellence for his contribution to the confectionery sector in 2024. They have also been recognised for their customer care practices, being a finalist for the Inside Retail Customer Care Award in 2024.

From its humble beginnings, Haigh's now operates 21 stores across four states and territories, supported by an incredible online store. Haigh's is not just a business success story; it is a vital part of the South Australian economy and the South Australian food and beverage industry. Beyond its cultural significance, Haigh's has also played a vital role in South Australia's economy, employing over 800 people across its operations, with that number expected to exceed 950 as the company expands. Its commitment to local manufacturing, producing over a thousand tonnes of chocolate annually across its Mile End and Parkside sites, has long supported jobs, suppliers and regional development.

As Haigh's celebrates its 110^th anniversary in 2025, it does so with its eyes on the future. The opening of a new facility in Salisbury South marks the largest investment in the company's history. Designed to integrate manufacturing, warehousing and fulfilment, it will double production capacity, ensuring that Haigh's can meet growing demand while staying true to its roots. With the opening of the new Salisbury South facility, production capacity will double to over 2,000 tonnes per year, further strengthening Haigh's role as a key player in the state's premium food and beverage sector.

I was honoured to attend the unveiling ceremony for Haigh's new $130 million manufacturing facility, an event that marked the beginning of the largest infrastructure investment in the company's 110-year history. This state-of-the-art site will span 36,000 square metres and accommodate up to 400 employees during its growth phase, including the creation of 150 new jobs. It was a profound moment to witness firsthand the start of a project that not only reflects Haigh's continued success but also its deep commitment to South Australia's future.

The company's commitment to traditional chocolate-making techniques, combined with innovation, has ensured its ongoing popularity. But Haigh's is more than just chocolate; it is a company with a big heart. Since 1993, the Easter bilby has raised awareness for native wildlife through its partnership with Rabbit Free Australia. Today, Haigh's supports a range of environmental and community causes, including Variety Australia: The Children's Charity, demonstrating that generosity is as much a part of its identity as its signature truffles. Their significant contributions to philanthropic community initiatives are making a big difference and positively impacting our community.

From a single store in Adelaide to a beloved national brand, Haigh's Chocolates has remained true to its founding value: quality. That Haigh's has remained a proudly family-owned business for 110 years is a remarkable achievement in itself, one that speaks to the enduring values of stewardship, integrity, family and long-term vision that have guided the company across four generations.

As we look back on this extraordinary journey, I commend Haigh's Chocolates for 110 years of business excellence, innovation and community spirit. It is a story of resilience, family legacy and unwavering commitment to South Australia. With those remarks, I wholeheartedly commend the motion with my deepest congratulations to Haigh's Chocolates.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. I.K. Hunter.