Darrell Lea buys legendary lolly

LIFE Savers lollies will again be made in Australia.

Confectioner Darrell Lea is buying rights to the brand in Australia and New Zealand from Swiss food titan Nestle.

It marks a win for Australian manufacturing, with Darrell Lea to move the lollies’ production from New Zealand.

First created in the US in 1912, Life Savers in that market is owned by chewing gum maker Wrigley, in turn owned by confectionery titan Mars.

In Australia, Life Savers were first made in Victoria more than 90 years ago until the early 2000s.

In the deal with Nestle, Darrell Lea has also acquired the rights to the Black Knight, Heards, Fabulicious, Odd Fellows & Mackintosh’s brands.

Life Savers will roll off the production line at Darrell Lea’s Ingleburn factory, in Sydney.

Darrell Lea is Australia’s biggest independently owned confectionery player and in January was bought by Quadrant Private Equity for $200 million. The confectionery brand traces its history back to the early 1900s.

Quadrant’s buyout came just six years after Darrell Lea tumbled into administration, only to be revived by Queensland entrepreneurs Tony and Christina Quinn.

The Life Savers deal follows the return last year of Vegemite to Australian ownership. Dairy company Bega Cheese announced last year that it would buy Vegemite back from Mondelez International.