Darrell Lea acquires Heritage Fine Chocolates

Darrell Lea plans to add 50 jobs to its chocolate operations next year.

Australia-based Darrell Lea Confectionery Co. has acquired Heritage Fine Chocolates following investment from a private equity firm earlier this year.

Darrell Lea, which produces confectionery products at a factory in Ingleburn, southwest of Sydney, had an established relationship with the chocolate company based in Rowville, southeast of Melbourne.

“Their capabilities plus the Darrell Lea brand equals a big opportunity for all of us,” Marketing Director Tim Stanford told Perth Now.. “It’s great for us to be manufacturing in Melbourne, and there’s new job opportunities coming from it.’’

Darrell Lea intends to retain Heritage’s current workforce and add up to 50 jobs next year.

In 2012, the Queensland-based Quinn Family, owners of VIP Petfoods, scooped up Darrell Lea, which was on the brink of collapse. Quadrant Private Equity bought Darrell Lea in January for about $200 million.

Alyse Thompson has held many positions with BNP Media, first serving as an intern at Candy Industry Magazine in summer 2012. She joined Candy Industry's staff full time as associate editor in August 2016 after a few years at newspapers in West-Central Illinois, becoming managing editor in March 2019. Alyse has also served as managing editor of Cannabis Products Magazine since March 2019. She has bachelor’s degrees in journalism and Spanish from Western Illinois University.