Whittaker’s celebrates the people behind their chocolate this World Chocolate Day
World Chocolate Day on 7 July is a chance for Whittaker’s to celebrate our relationships with our cocoa farmers and other ingredient suppliers in New Zealand and around the world, staff at our one factory in Porirua, our ethical sourcing partners, our local community and our Chocolate Lovers.
Whittaker’s co-Chief Operating Officer, Holly Whittaker, who is the great-granddaughter of founder JH Whittaker, says relationships are a key ingredient in enabling Whittaker’s to make world class chocolate right here in New Zealand.
“We especially want to acknowledge our dedicated team at our Porirua factory who make our world class chocolate, and our Chocolate Lovers who give us honest feedback so that we can continue to innovate and improve on what we do,” says Holly.
World Chocolate Day is also an opportunity for everyone to celebrate a treat that has been loved for centuries for the way it makes us feel as well as its delicious taste.
“It’s great to have this opportunity for us all to celebrate chocolate and an excuse to enjoy some! We look forward to hearing from our Chocolate Lovers about how they plan to celebrate the day,” says Holly.
While New Zealand is Whittaker’s home and key focus, it is also starting to take on the world, exporting its products to Australia, Canada, Malaysia, China, South Korea, Japan, the Middle East, and many Pacific Islands.
Whittaker’s other co-Chief Operating Officer, Matt Whittaker, says that while there is wider demand and opportunity for Whittaker’s in these and other markets, Whittaker’s aim is still to be the best chocolate manufacturer rather than the biggest.
“Staying true to our values as a family-owned business remains a priority, and for us that’s all about our uncompromising commitment to quality by controlling the whole chocolate-making process, from bean to bar, and continuing to build a more ethical and sustainable supply chain,” says Matt.
Whittaker’s has been voted New Zealand’s Most Trusted Brand for the past 13 years in a row, and its wide range of products is available in stores nationwide.
ENDS
Lisa was born in Auckland at the start of the 1970s, living in a small campsite community on the North Shore called Browns Bay. She spent a significant part of her life with her grandparents, often hanging out at the beaches. Lisa has many happy memories from those days at Browns Bay beach, where fish were plentiful on the point and the ocean was rich in seaweed. She played in the water for hours, going home totally “sun-kissed.” “An adorable time to grow up,” Lisa tells me.
Lisa enjoyed many sports; she was a keen tennis player and netballer, playing in the top teams for her age right up until the family moved to Wellington. Lisa was fifteen years old, which unfortunately marked the end of her sporting career. Local teams were well established in Wellington, and her attention was drawn elsewhere.