Cadbury injects $20m into Dunedin chocolate factory

By NZPA

Wednesday 29th November 2006

The Dunedin economy is expected to get a major injection from a $20 million expansion of Cadbury's Dunedin chocolate factory.

The move will allow the factory to treble its production of chocolate crumb, which is exported to Cadbury factories in Australia, Pakistan and China.

Chocolate crumb is a key ingredient in the manufacturing of chocolate, and the company plans to set up a global crumb research and development centre in Dunedin.

"This new state-of-the-art facility will position Dunedin as a leading source of chocolate crumb for Cadbury Schweppes in the Asia Pacific region, which has enormous potential for growth," Cadbury Schweppes Australia and New Zealand's managing director, Mark Smith, said.

The expansion will involve $18 million on new buildings, plant and environmental work. The Government will add a grant of $2 million for the research centre.

"We've chosen to invest in New Zealand, and in particular, in Dunedin because the plant is already highly efficient, and we have access to quality ingredients, such as fresh milk," Smith said.

It is expected the plant will be ready for production in October next year.

The Cadbury factory in Dunedin employs 600 full time staff and up to 200 temporary staff during peak times.

It handles a wide range of products including Moro bars, block chocolate, Easter eggs, drinking chocolate and the Mother Earth brand of snacks.

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