Chocolate business a sweet deal for Haigh's

Haigh's, the biggest family-owned chocolate business in Australia, is going full steam ahead.

The company this week released designs of its future $130 million Salisbury South manufacturing facility north of Adelaide.

The development, for which works will commence later this month, is the single largest infrastructure investment in the history of the South Australian business as it prepares for further expansion and growth.

“This project represents a significant milestone for Haigh’s, as it will see our current chocolate production capacity double, allowing us to meet increased demand and interstate growth opportunities, including entering new markets,” says chief executive Alister Haigh.

"We plan for the state-of-the-art facility to be fully operational in the second half of 2025, accommodating up to 400 employees over the course of the growth phase including the creation of approximately 150 new jobs."

Chief Operating Officer Peter Millard says: "Not only will this project directly create new jobs and opportunities at this site, it will facilitate employment growth across our retail business Australia-wide creating up to 250 new jobs in the medium and long term.$36 million of the project investment will go towards state-of-the-art European-made equipment."

Haigh’s has grown substantially over its 108-year history, now employing more than 800 people.

It was May 1, 1915, when Alfred E Haigh opened the doors of the very first Haigh’s Chocolates store 34 King William Street, Adelaide.

In 1917 he started producing chocolate-covered fruit centres, which the company still makes today.

Then, in 1919, Alfred bought land behind the family home at Parkside, where he built a small factory, which is now the Visitors Centre.

Today the company is run by fourth generation Haighs, Alister and Simon, who started in the 1970s. They’ve been joint managing directors since 1990.

There are now 21 Haigh’s stores across Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra.