Food Drink

Violet Crumble Returns To SA Thanks To Robern Menz

Who doesn’t love a Violet Crumble? That delicious chocolate and so so sweet and crumbly honeycomb? Well now we’re going to be able to enjoy them AND support South Australia thanks to Robern Menz.

Who doesn’t love a Violet Crumble? That delicious chocolate and so so sweet and crumbly honeycomb? Well now we’re going to be able to enjoy them AND support South Australia thanks to Robern Menz.

Violet Crumble has long been an Aussie cultural favourite as indicated in multiple online forums. It also took out top spot in a recent social campaign by SBS Food HQ, #BringBacktheClassics, where Violet Crumble was acknowledged as Australia’s most favourite nostalgic snack.

Well today fourth generation family owned Australian business, Robern Menz announced that it has entered into an agreement with Nestlé to acquire the Violet Crumble brand! This acquisition will bring one of Australia’s most iconic and favourite snacks back under Australian ownership.

The sale of the Nestlé Violet Crumble brand to Robern Menz will see the South Australian based confectionery company obtain Nestlé’s rights to the Violet Crumble trademark and brand globally, with manufacturing, sales and marketing operations transitioning from Nestlé to Robern Menz gradually throughout 2018.

Robern Menz CEO, Phil Sims, is thrilled for the company to take ownership of one of Australia’s most beloved brands and is excited by the prospects that come with this step-up for their business.

“We are really excited to have partnered with Nestlé and reached an agreement to acquire what is undoubtedly one of Australia’s great brands”, Sims said, “… And as the new gatekeeper of Violet Crumble, we are aware of the responsibility that comes with owning a brand so highly regarded in the Australian market place.”

Sims went on to mention that throughout 2018 Robern Menz will develop plans for Violet Crumble that will include re-introducing the product in a variety of nostalgic formats loved by generations of Australians.

Robern Menz is one of the country’s largest Australian owned confectionery businesses. The company is the largest manufacturer in Australia of choc honeycomb, a key product among their Menz confectionery range. The acquisition makes Violet Crumble a seamless fit.

“We are fiercely passionate about Australian brands, and with a significant honeycomb line of our own, the opportunity was too good to pass on. With our expertise, we can ensure that Violet Crumble is produced with no change to the recipe and with the same passion and affinity Australian’s have had towards the brand since 1913,” Sims said.

Under the ownership of Robern Menz, Violet Crumble will once again be produced in South Australia after Rowntree Hoadley, which was acquired by Nestlé, closed their Adelaide plant in 1985. As part of the 2018 transition, the famed Violet Crumble recipe will end up being 100% made at Robern Menz’s world class manufacturing facility in Glynde, South Australia.

The takeover will allow Robern Menz to employ up to an additional 30 positions in South Australia. The company also is investing a further $4million in 2018 on a factory refit and extension and new warehousing facilities to further support the production of Violet Crumble and the growing demand for Robern Menz products.

The return of Violet Crumble to Australian ownership will see the product remain available at all leading supermarkets nationwide with expansion plans to be developed for other market channels including further export markets in the near future.

Robern Menz acknowledges the valuable support provided by key backers in the deal namely Westpac Banking Corporation and the South Australian Government.

So sit back in your hammock and let your dog wrangle a croc while you enjoy a South Australian owned and made Violet Crumble!

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