Little-known sweets factory prepares for sales uplift
As Kiwis mourn the loss of New Zealand-made Cadbury Pineapple Lumps, a little-known sweets factory in Oamaru will be picking up the slack.
Under Cadbury owner Mondelez International’s plan, the manufacturing of Pineapple Lumps and Jaffas will be moved to Australia.
Kiwis took to the internet to commiserate with Cadbury staff and boycott Cadbury products in favour of homegrown options.
But Rainbow Confectionery managing director Ray White said Kiwis were actually buying far fewer Cadbury Pineapple Lumps than they thought and it wasn’t even Cadbury that invented them in the first place.
According to White, the very first pineapple chunks (as they were originally called) were made by Regina Confectionery Company in the 1950s in the factory now used by Rainbow Confectionery.
Nestle bought Regina Confectionery in 1995 and sold it in 2001, when it was relaunched as Rainbow Confectionery.
The factory pumped out more than 3000 tonnes of sweets every year, including 10 million Easter eggs, and supplied to supermarkets and The Warehouse.
Its products are largely unbranded, but are sold under Homebrand, Pams and Planet Candy labels.
The company also supplied cafes with marshmallows and baby chocolate fish that accompanied hot drinks.
Ever bought lollies from supermarket bulk bins? Rainbow Confectionery make those too.
White said the company has just completed a major expansion project at the factory, which was Cadbury’s news.
He said once Cadbury leaves Dunedin, Rainbow Confectionery would be the largest provider of New Zealandmade sweets. Other chocolate manufacturers still operating in New Zealand included Whittaker’s and Donovans.
‘‘There’s no real alternative for locally made Easter eggs and Pineapple Lumps. We will just have to gear up for the expectation and uplift of sales.’’
White confirmed that the company would be looking at offering jobs to Cadbury staff. timely given