Production of Jaffas crosses Tasman
Jaffas, Pineapple Lumps, Buzz Bars and Pinky Bars will now be made in Australia after the owner of Cadbury’s Dunedin factory failed to find a local manufacturer.
Three companies had originally expressed interest in making the Kiwi sweets, but Mondelez International spokesman James Kane said yesterday it had not found a suitable company.
‘‘Despite that exhaustive search for a local partner no solution has been found,’’ he said.
An existing Australian Mondelez factory will pick up production of all lollies that were made in New Zealand.
Kane said there would be no changes in price. ‘‘We currently import about 80 per cent of our portfolio into New Zealand anyway,’’ he said.
Mondelez announced earlier this year it would stop manufacturing Cadbury products in Dunedin in March 2018, with the loss of 350 jobs.
‘‘Unfortunately, we only received one formal response ... from a local supplier that was interested in manufacturing the full portfolio of Kiwi products in New Zealand. We’ve worked very closely with that supplier over the last six months to try and find a way for them to take on the work. However the unique requirements of these products – particularly the marshmallow based products – meant it simply wasn’t possible,’’ Kane said.
‘‘We looked at a range of potential solutions, from partnering to make the full portfolio, through to offering individ- ual products to potential suppliers.’’
Dr Jim O’Malley launched the Own the Factory campaign, but his Dunedin Manufacturing Holdings (DMH) canned its plan in June to take over the manufacturing of Jaffas and other confectionery.
The DMH venture attracted almost $6 million in pledges from about 4500 people who supported a plan to keep iconic Cadbury products made in Dunedin. –Stuff