“How Aldi made us millions”
When Bruce Edward started his own confectionary business in 1995, he had no idea that 20 years later, his humble, family-owned operation would be worth millions of dollars.
Bruce, who previously worked at the Mars confectionary factory, became frustrated because unlike his co-workers, he couldn’t take home any treats for his family.
You see, diabetes runs in his family, and at the time, sugar-free lollies and snacks were all but non-existent.
So, Bruce and his wife Vicki founded Ferndale Confectionary in their home town of Ballarat. And as the public’s obsession with health foods grew, so did the Edwards’ business.
Then, in 2001, their lives changed. German supermarket chain Aldi teamed up with Ferndale, agreeing to stock its products – Flirt Chewing Gum and Blitz Mints.
They also produce Jila mints and gum, Jols fruit pastilles, Kopiko coffee drops, Licorette pastilles, Slim Fruits pastilles and Jibba jelly beans.
These days, what started as a small business has blossomed into a multimillion-dollar manufacturer (the Australian Financial Review puts the figure at $15 million), with 30 staff members (though this is set to grow to 50 by Christmas) and a second, $6 million processing facility being built this year.
Bruce’s son Leigh, who has taken over from his dad as Ferndale’s general manager, described his father as a “trailblazer”.
“He worked at one of the largest snack food and confectionery companies on the planet but he couldn’t give his family treats, and he found that disgusting,” Leigh told news.com.au.
“He spent two years writing a business plan and developing packaging and working out how to bring a better-for-you confectionery to the market.
“Sugar free products with natural colours and flavours back then was trailblazing – it was a whole new market.
“Aldi revolutionised the business, there’s no doubt about it.”