Annual sales increasing for South Australian chocolate factory as production hits Easter peak

One of Australia's oldest chocolate factories has hit its peak production period, making the most of Australians indulging in Easter treats.

Adelaide-based Haigh's Chocolates, which is marking 100 years of operation in May, produces 700 tonnes of chocolate each year.

Much of the chocolate is made with domestically-sourced sugar, milk powder and nuts.

Chief executive Alister Haigh said chocolate production dramatically increases at Easter to cater for demand.

"We've got an extra production line, being the Easter line, that's running," he said.

"At the warehouse, we have to store the Easter product but a lot of that is air, so volume-wise it's probably two or three times the space we require at Easter, rather than Christmas."

Although sales peak at this time of year, Mr Haigh said the company's annual sales are slowly increasing as the country's population increases.

"The Australian market is a fairly mature market," he said.

 "We are a very high consumer of chocolate per capita, so there's actually not much growth per person.

"Where the growth for the industry is coming from is the population growth."

The company still hopes to receive a shipment of cocoa from Vanuatu in the near future, despite the devastation caused by Tropical Cyclone Pam in March.

As part of an Australian aid project, Haigh's Chocolates has been working with Vanuatuan farmers to develop crops which may deliver one to two tonnes of cocoa to the Adelaide-based company.

Mr Haigh said the research and development initiative will continue, as much of the crop seems to have survived the cyclone.

"Cocoa grows on trees and it's a tropical tree, so it's a bit like palm trees, they're sort of designed to handle fairly tough storms," he said.

"There's probably been a little bit of damage but it hasn't been too bad."

Source : ABC Rural     April 2nd 2015