whittakers factory tour new zealand

Wellington Chocolate Factory

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Wellington Chocolate Factory - All You MUST Know Before You Go (2024)

Wellington Chocolate Factory

Top ways to experience Wellington Chocolate Factory and nearby attractions

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WELLINGTON CHOCOLATE FACTORY: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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LICENSED PRODUCT OF NEW ZEALAND

Whittaker's Chocolate

Fernmark licence no. 100270.

Whittaker’s is a family business in New Zealand devoted to crafting the finest chocolate since 1896. They are the only major chocolate manufacturer in New Zealand that ensures quality by controlling the whole manufacturing process from beans to bar. Each step, from receiving the cocoa bean to the final wrapped product, is done at their factory in Porirua, Wellington.

LICENSED PRODUCTS

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THE STORY BEHIND NEW ZEALAND PRODUCTS

What is the fernmark.

This trademark symbol is the international symbol of New Zealand and represents a mark of trust to consumers around the globe.

Any product carrying this symbol has been issued a licence by the New Zealand government and demonstrates that the New Zealand business has met the eligibility criteria set by the FernMark Licence Programme.

A business must:

Be a registered business within New Zealand

Be compliant with all NZ laws and relevant regulations

Be of good character and repute

Have a substantial level of New Zealand ownership governance and full time employees

Have been exporting for at least 12 months

Demonstrate that each licensed product is either made, grown or designed in New Zealand.

Discover more about New Zealand

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Whittaker’s Chocolate from New Zealand Indulgence Tour & Experience

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The world’s finest chocolate made in New Zealand since 1896. Get the latest Whittaker’s chocolate for delivery to the USA, Japan or anywhere else in the world.

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Whittaker’s Almond Gold Chocolate Block 250g x 4

Whittaker’s Almond Gold Slab Bulk 45g x50

Whittaker’s Artisan Marlborough Sea Salt and Caramel Brittle 100g x 6 Value Pack

Whittaker’s Artisan Nelson Pear and Manuka 100g x 6 Value Pack

Whittaker’s Artisan Squares Selection 189g x 4 Value Pack

Whittaker’s Berry and Biscuit Chocolate Block 250g x 4

Whittaker’s Berry Forest Chocolate Block 250g x 4

Whittaker’s Coconut Chocolate Block 250g x 4

Whittaker’s Creamy Caramel Chocolate Block 250g x 4

NEW | Whittaker’s Caramelised White Chocolate with Mango and Coconut Block 250g x 4

Value Pack | Whittaker’s Artisan Chocolate Lover Bundle (18 items)

Value Pack | Whittaker’s Ultimate Chocolate Lover Bundle (14 items)

Whittaker’s Creamy Milk Chocolate Block 250g x 4

Whittaker’s Hazella Chocolate Block 250g x 4

Whittaker’s Honey Nougat and Almond Block 250g x 4

Whittaker’s Oat Milk Chocolate Block 250g x 4

Whittaker’s Creamy Milk Chunky Bar 50g x 36

Whittaker’s Coconut Slab 50g x 50

Whittaker’s Creamy Milk Slab 50g x 50

Whittaker’s Dark Almond Chocolate Block 250g x 4

Whittaker’s Dark Cacao Chocolate Block 250g x 4 Value Pack

Whittaker’s Dark Chocolate Block 250g x 4

Whittaker’s Creamy Milk Chocolate Squares Bulk 10.5g x 300

Whittaker’s 50% Dark Chocolate Squares Bulk 10.5g x 300

Whittaker’s Dark Ghana Chocolate Block 250g x 4

Whittaker’s Dark Ghana Chunky Bar 50g x 36

Whittaker’s Dark Ghana Fruit and Nut Chocolate Block 250g x 4

Whittaker’s Dark Salted Caramel Chocolate Block 250g x 4

Whittaker’s Dark Sante bar 25g x 48

Whittaker’s Canterbury Hazelnut in Creamy Milk Chocolate 100g x 6 Value Pack

Whittaker’s Fijian Ginger and Kerikeri Mandarin Chocolate 100g x 6 Value Pack

Whittaker’s Fruit & Nut Chunky Bar 50g x 36

Whittaker’s Fruit and Nut Chocolate Block 250g x 4

Whittaker’s Ghana Peppermint Chocolate Block 250g x 4

Whittaker’s New Zealand Plum & Almond Chocolate 100g x 6 Value Pack

Whittaker’s Hazelnut Chocolate Block 250g x 4

Whittaker’s Hokey Pokey Crunch Chocolate Block 250g x 4

Whittaker’s Jelly Tip Chocolate Block 250g x 4

Whittaker’s Marlborough Sea Salt & Caramel Brittle With Saffron Chocolate Block 100g x 6 Value Pack

Whittaker’s Milk Chocolate Sante bar 25g x 48

Award winning shopping village

Our history.

The cotton weaving industry had humble beginnings in single roomed weavers’ cottages where, more than 300 years ago…

The cotton weaving industry had humble beginnings in single roomed weavers’ cottages where, more than 300 years ago, local weavers would spin yarn and weave calico cloth from raw cotton sold to them by a local farmer. Then in 1764, James Hargreaves, an ancestor on our family tree, triggered the start of the Industrial Revolution by inventing the Spinning Jenny. This escalated the cotton industry into vast productivity as the Spinning Jenny could now do the job of 8 spinners in keeping one weaver supplied with yarn. By the early 1800’s, hundreds of workers would stream through the doors of Moscow Mill into the clattering atmosphere of what is now The Weavers Court. Weaving was carried out continuously at Moscow Mill for more than 150 years until the early 1990’s when the globalisation of manufacturing caused the last weaving shed to close and Oswaldtwistle Mills to be born.

We have a wonderful photo in our archives showing excited Mill workers climbing onto ‘charabancs’ to take them on annual trips – the Mill and the community were closely linked and the owners keen to offer their workers fun times. History has come full circle; modern day Oswaldtwistle Mills now welcomes thousands of coaches a year. Last year we had 1,500,000 visitors through our doors! That’s a staggering figure and one we are very proud of.

  Oswaldtwistle Mills has been home to an Aladdin’s Cave of shopping treasures for 25 years now since we opened as one of the first Mill Shopping Villages in Lancashire. A lot has changed since those early days selling detergents and fabric remnants under our former guise of The Bubble Factory, but our modern-day Shopping Village and Garden Centre offers something different to amaze, charm and tempt on every visit.

Walk through our ever-expanding 120,000 feet of retail space and you’ll find all the gift inspiration you could ne The cotton weaving industry had humble beginnings in single roomed weavers’ cottages where, more than 300 years ago, local weavers would spin yarn and weave calico cloth from raw cotton sold to them by a local farmer. Then in 1764, James Hargreaves, an ancestor on our family tree, triggered the start of the Industrial Revolution by inventing the Spinning Jenny. This escalated the cotton industry into vast productivity as the Spinning Jenny could now do the job of 8 spinners in keeping one weaver supplied with yarn. By the early 1800’s, hundreds of workers would stream through the doors of Moscow Mill into the clattering atmosphere of what is now The Weavers Court. Weaving was carried out continuously at Moscow Mill for more than 150 years until the early 1990’s when the globalisation of manufacturing caused the last weaving shed to close and Oswaldtwistle Mills to be born. We have a wonderful photo in our archives showing excited Mill workers climbing onto ‘charabancs’ to take them on annual trips – the Mill and the community were closely linked and the owners keen to offer their workers fun times. History has come full circle; modern day Oswaldtwistle Mills now welcomes thousands of coaches a year. Last year we had 1,500,000 visitors through our doors! That’s a staggering figure and one we are very proud of.   Oswaldtwistle Mills has been home to an Aladdin’s Cave of shopping treasures for 25 years now since we opened as one of the first Mill Shopping Villages in Lancashire. A lot has changed since those early days selling detergents and fabric remnants under our former guise of The Bubble Factory, but our modern-day Shopping Village and Garden Centre offers something different to amaze, charm and tempt on every visit.   Walk through our ever-expanding 120,000 feet of retail space and you’ll find all the gift inspiration you could need: scented candles, arts and crafts supplies, sewing machines, contemporary furniture and home furnishings, lighting and an impressive range of clothes, shoes and accessories included: scented candles, arts and crafts supplies, sewing machines, contemporary furniture and home furnishings, lighting and an impressive range of clothes, shoes and accessories including many leading high-street brands, a colourful garden centre, a gourmet food deli and butchers, old fashioned sweet shop and more! And if all this retail therapy leaves you feeling peckish there’s plenty of choice – from the contemporary Cafe Nova to the relaxing Pavillion Coffee Shop and the chic Terrace Tea Room.

Intrigued by Oswaldtwistle Mill’s history? Visit the Heritage Centre, or find yourself drawn back into childhood by the scent of Stockley’s Sweet Shop. 

What really matters to us is that each of our visitors has a unique, enjoyable experience and we pride ourselves on our warm Lancashire welcome and excellent customer service. We are delighted to be a multi award winning destination and have been awarded the ‘Retail Tourism Award’ & ‘Best for Groups Award’  at the 2015 Lancashire Tourism Awards and were also a finalist in the 2016 Red Rose Awards in the ‘Family Business’ and ‘Retail Business’ categories. At the 2016 National Coach Tourism Awards we were also chosen as a finalist in the “Coach-Friendly Shopping Destination of the Year” category. We’re also accredited with Investors in People and have been awarded the Most Friendly UK Operator via Coach Tours UK.

Keeping up with tradition, Oswaldtwistle Mills is a community in itself – peopled by enthusiastic and hard working concession-owners and the staff who support them. Over the years we have welcomed a number of new concessions; a vibrant mixture of high profile stores and burgeoning family businesses. Recently these have included Bonmarché Ladieswear & Whittakers Schoolwear. Couple this with several new leading brands across Furniture and Accessories, Giftware, Clothing and in our Deli, and you really have a shopping experience that’s as individual as you are. All our concessions are glad to hear your feedback and share our enthusiasm.

In August 2019 we also expanded by opening a new furniture and interiors sister store and bistro – Loom Loft, located at Barrow Brook near Clitheroe.

However you choose to spend your time with us, we look forward to giving you a warm Lancashire Welcome at Oswaldtwistle Mills!

Oswaldtwistle Mills

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Moscow 1980 - A story of the NZ Boycott

The 1980 Moscow Games reflected a turbulent time where international sport and politics collided.

After the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan on Christmas Eve in 1979, United States President Jimmy Carter boycotted the Moscow Olympic Games that were scheduled for the following July. Pressure mounted around the world for Western nations to follow suit.

In New Zealand the issue reached epic proportions and touched public, private and sporting sectors alike. On 8 May 1980, the New Zealand Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (NZOCGA, today known as the NZOC) met and voted to accept the Soviet Unions invitation to attend the Games. Soon after the New Zealand Cabinet reached a decision that had devastating effects on the New Zealand team.

Cabinet had agreed that the games team would be considered divorced from the New Zealand Embassy in Moscow, that payments to the NZOCGA would be reconsidered and that no special leave to attend the games for public servants would be granted.

Meanwhile public opinion against the games mounted and sporting federations began to withdraw. Reasons varied; Equestrian cited protest at Russian intervention in Afghanistan, Hockey because of lack of competition, Rowing as lack of annual leave made attendance impossible.

The decisions were not clear cut. Sailors wrote to their Federation protesting against the decision to withdraw and the New Zealand Amateur Cycling Association President, Bill Main, expressed concern that amateur sportsmen were bearing the brunt of the attitudes and feelings towards to Russians over their invasion of Afghanistan.

While the NZOCGA continued to deliberate, government pressure mounted. President Carter wrote to New Zealands then Prime Minister, Robert Muldoon, asking New Zealand take further steps to get athletes to not attend the games. Muldoon called the issue of attendance a matter of high government policy. Minister of Recreation and Sport Alan Highet called on athletes to think beyond [their] own hopes and ambitionsany athletes who did go to the Olympic Games would be letting New Zealand down.

On the 29th of May the NZOCGA decided that no sponsor or government funds would be used to send a team to the Olympic Games and finally on the fourth of June the NZOCGA agreed that the decision to accept the invitation to attend the games would be rescinded and that the association would withdraw from the 1980 Olympics in Moscow.

Clearly its not much of an investment for sponsors, quipped Muldoon at the news.

Intimidation of athletes was reported. The Chairman of the Athletics Assocciation Ces Blazey authorised the withdrawal of the athletics team but Association Secretary Mr I Boyd said the association remained firmly opposed to the boycott. But because of intimidation of competitors, which is affecting their preparations for the games, the reduction in the size of the New Zealand team and the long term financial implications to the organisation of athletics in New Zealand if the team goes to Moscow, the NZAAA has decided very reluctantly to withdraw its section from the Olympics team, he said. Swimmer Rebecca Perrott withdrew in the best interests of New Zealand while her father noted his daughter had been under pressure.

The New Zealand Rowing Association was also opposed to the boycott but nonetheless withdrew its team. New Zealand Rowing firmly believes that the Olympic boycott is a wrong method of settling a political dispute and adheres to the firm belief that participation in the Olympics would do far more good for the peace of the world than the steps that have been forced upon them, they said in a statement. Muldoon conversely believed athletes would, in time, put things into perspective.

A team of just four athletes and four officials remained. Led by Sir Tay Wilson, the original Chef de Mission, the team included Ian Ferguson, Alan Thompson, Geoff Walker and Brian Newth. Public pressure was strong and Newth reported receiving abusive letters and phone calls including a letter written in blood.

On 19 July 1980 five members of the team walked into the Olympiyskiy behind a black flag with white rings and fern (NZOCGA logo). The New Zealand flag did not fly at Moscow.

Ian Ferguson (K1 500, K1 1000)

Alan Thompson (K2 500, K2 1000)

Geoff Walker (K2 500, K 2 1000)

Brian Newth (Modern Pentathlon)

• 02 Our Chocolate
• 03 Where to Buy
• 04 Gift Shop
• 06 Get in touch
• 07 Our Story
• 08 Beans to Bar
• 09 Our Values

Frequently Asked Questions

Got a question about Whittaker's? You'll find the answers to the questions people ask us most frequently, here. 

Where is Whittaker's chocolate made?

All of our products are made at our factory in Porirua, New Zealand.

Where can I buy Whittaker's chocolate?

You can buy Whittaker's chocolate in-store or online:

• In-store: Whittaker's chocolate is available in supermarkets throughout Australia. Find your closest Whittaker's fix on our stockists page. Or, give us a call on 1800 143 197 and we will do our best to help out.
• Online:  You can also buy a selection of treats at our new Whittaker's Gift Shop , with gift wrapping and cards exclusive to online!

Is Whittaker's a New Zealand company?

We sure are! Whittaker's is a New Zealand company that's been family owned and operated since 1896. Discover our story

Where is Whittaker's chocolate exported to?

We export our chocolate to Australia, Canada, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, the Middle East, and many Pacific Islands.

How do you make chocolate?

Our chocolate making process is complex and takes a number of steps. Go behind the scenes on our  Beans to Bar  page to find out how we do it.

Do you offer tours of the Whittaker's factory?

We are unable to offer tours because of our relatively small size and tight factory regulations. But you can still get a sneak peek of what goes on behind the scenes on our Beans to Bar  page!

Does your dark chocolate contain milk?

Milk is not an ingredient in any of our dark chocolate over 50% cocoa (except our caramel flavours). This makes it a popular choice for people who are lactose intolerant and vegan.

However, our dark chocolate is made on the same production line as our milk chocolate varieties, so it may contain traces of milk chocolate.

Browse our No Added Dairy range

Do Whittaker's products contain genetically modified (GM) ingredients?

No, none of our products contain GM ingredients.  Find out more about the ingredients we use and our focus on ethical sourcing .  

Do any Whittaker's chocolate products contain palm oil?

At Whittaker's, we do not use palm oil in any of our chocolate products. Find out more about the ingredients we use and our focus on ethical sourcing . 

Are Whittaker's products gluten free?

Some of our flavours contain added gluten.

We don’t currently have dedicated lines for manufacturing our products that contain added gluten. So even though we have a comprehensive allergen control program, there is always a chance that our other products could contain traces of gluten. This means we cannot label our other flavours as ‘gluten free’. Please contact us if you have any questions about gluten in our products.

Browse our No Added Gluten range

When you are producing chocolate in your factory, what are the main rules and regulations you take into account?

Our factory operates according to regulations established in the joint Australia-New Zealand Food Standards Code, the Health and Safety At Work Act (2015) and the Fair Trading Act.

How can I find out about job opportunities with Whittaker's?

We do have job vacancies from time to time. To find out about possible positions, please email   [email protected] .

Are Whittaker's Halal accredited?

Whittaker's have been granted Halal accreditation by FIANZ for many of our Classic and Specialty flavours. 

Browse our Halal Certified range

Are Whittaker's Kosher certified?

The following flavours are Kosher and Pareve (not for Passover):

Almond & Cranberry, Dark Almond, 50% Dark, 62% Dark Cacao, 72% Dark Ghana, 86% Extra Dark Ghana, 92% Intense Dark Ghana, Dark Peppermint, Dark Orange, Ghana Peppermint, 70% Single Origin Samoan Cacao, Wellington Roasted Supreme Coffee Dark Chocolate, Peanut Slab Bittersweet, 76% Nicaraguan Heirloom Cocoa.  

The following flavours are Kosher and Dairy (Chalav Stam) (not for Passover):

Almond Gold, Berry and Biscuit, Coconut Block, Creamy Milk, Fruit and Nut, Hazelnut (200/250g), Peanut Butter, White Chocolate, Peanut Block/Slab, Nelson Pear and Manuka Honey, Italian Hazelnut, Fijian Ginger and Kerikeri Mandarin, Hokey Pokey Milk, Cashew nut and Wattleseed.  

Browse our Kosher and Dairy (Chalav Stam) range

What do I do if I have a comment, question or concern about a Whittaker's product?

Simply give us a call on  1800 143 197  with your comments, queries or concerns. You can also contact us through our website or visit our   Facebook page .

Can I return Whittaker's products after purchase?

Absolutely. If you are dissatisfied with any Whittaker's product for any reason, you can contact your local distributor, or the team here in New Zealand. You can either call us on   1800 143 197 , or contact us through our website .

Can I distribute Whittaker's products?

If you are a creditable distributor and meet our credit requirements, you can distribute Whittaker's products. Get more information by calling us on 1800 143 197 or emailing us at   [email protected] .