Chocolate machines to stay in Otago

Food giant Mondelez will not destroy its machinery when it withdraws from manufacturing Cadbury products at its Dunedin factory, the company says.

Dr Jim O’Malley, of the Own the Factory campaign, said Mondelez would help the Dunedin community by being clear about what it was doing with its machinery when it exited the city next year. Chocolate manufacturing has been in Dunedin for almost 150 years.

A spokesman for Mondelez confirmed some of the equipment would be moved to Australian sites, while some would potentially go to a New Zealand manufacturer who ‘‘may take on production of our iconic Kiwi products’’.

Three companies originally expressed interest in making Jaffas, Pineapple Lumps, Buzz Bars and Pinky Bars, but O’Malley’s Dunedin Manufacturing Holdings (DMH) pulled out of the bidding process this week.

The Mondelez spokesman said as part of the decommissioning process, the company would work with other parties, including DMH, who ‘‘are interested in the remaining equipment’’.

The DMH venture attracted almost $6 million in pledges from about 4500 people who supported its plan to keep manufacturing of iconic Cadbury products in Dunedin.

DMH would contact those who pledged to the campaign and ask them to stay involved in the second stage of the venture’s plan.

O’Malley said he had heard from about 100 of those who pledged ‘‘and they are all positive’’. Their support would be needed for the company’s new focus of making ‘‘high quality chocolate’’ – rather than confectionary.

O’Malley envisaged the new business plan may involve producing block chocolate, similar to that made by Whittaker’s, and artisan chocolate.

Mondelez announced earlier this year it would stop manufacturing Cadbury products in Dunedin in March 2018, with the loss of 350 jobs.