“How Aldi made us millions”
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>You see, diabetes runs in his family, and at the time, sugar-free lollies and snacks were all but non-existent.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>They also produce Jila mints and gum, Jols fruit pastilles, Kopiko coffee drops, Licorette pastilles, Slim Fruits pastilles and Jibba jelly beans.</p>
<p>These days, what started as a small business has blossomed into a multimillion-dollar manufacturer (the <a href="http://www.afr.com/business/ballarat-confectioner-ferndale-in-sugarfree-push-to-china-20151125-k9yjz" target="_blank"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Australian Financial Review</span></em></strong></a> 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.</p>
<p>Bruce’s son Leigh, who has taken over from his dad as Ferndale’s general manager, described his father as a “trailblazer”.</p>
<p>“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 <a href="http://www.news.com.au/finance/business/retail/ferndale-confectionerys-doubledigit-growth-since-partnering-with-aldi-in-2001/news-story/dbcaa31f56a70fd16b676834e0956246" target="_blank"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">news.com.au</span></em></strong></a>.</p>
<p>“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.</p>
<p>“Sugar free products with natural colours and flavours back then was trailblazing – it was a whole new market.</p>
<p>“Aldi revolutionised the business, there’s no doubt about it.”</p>
