Haigh’s Chocolates has opened an A$120 million manufacturing, warehousing and online fulfilment complex in Salisbury South, South Australia. The company says the 18,000-square-metre facility can lift annual chocolate production capacity from 1,100 tonnes to 2,000 tonnes.
The manufacturer expects the complex to accommodate up to 400 employees, including around 100 new production, warehouse and fulfilment jobs over five years. Its equipment investment totals A$30 million, according to the company.
Production and storage equipment
The new complex includes panning, enrobing and moulding lines, kitchen and packing equipment, 1,180 solar panels, 1.7 kilometres of chocolate delivery pipes and more than five kilometres of linear storage. The company operates 22 stores across Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra, alongside its online store, and opened its Broadway store in Sydney earlier in September.
The earlier development plan
Haigh’s released the development designs on Dec 12, 2023, with operations planned for the second half of 2025. The original A$130 million proposal covered a 36,000-square-metre site. It allocated 9,000 square metres to production and 6,000 to warehousing and online fulfilment.
CIP Constructions was appointed to oversee construction of the BELL Architects-designed building. Early works were to involve earthworks and underground services, followed by steel erection in early 2024.
The December 2023 plan also included A$36 million for European-made equipment. These were the estimates announced at that development stage.
A new chief executive
Peter Millard’s appointment as chief executive took effect on Aug 4, 2025, before the complex opened. Haigh’s announced the succession on Jul 4, 2025. Millard became the family-owned chocolate maker’s first chief executive from outside the Haigh family.
His predecessor, Alister Haigh, had led the company for 30 years. Alister joined the business in 1973 and became chief executive in 1995. He remained on the board alongside fourth-generation family members Simon Haigh and Sara Fitzgerald, and planned to serve as a brand ambassador.
Millard brought experience in the company’s supply chain and daily operations to the position. His career at Haigh’s included:
- Joining as supply chain manager in 2006.
- Serving as chief operating officer for four years before the succession announcement.
- Helping lead the Salisbury South development alongside the project team, according to Alister Haigh.
Board chair Carolyn Mitchell said an external panel had interviewed Millard during the selection process. He had worked at Haigh’s for 19 years when the succession was announced.
Leave a comment