Loads more lolly jobs for Levin with likely introduction of Nestle ranges

Tuesday, 17 July 2018

Susan Williams, from RJ's Licorice, with some of the products that will be rolling off its production line soon.

Loads more lollies are likely to be whipped up in Levin with plans for a big expansion at the RJ's Licorice factory, expected to bring more jobs to the town.

Nestlé New Zealand and RJ's confectionery are working through details in a deal for RJ's parent company Quadrant Private Equity to take over five ranges of Nestlé sweets.

A conditional deal is in place, and the companies are working out the fine print and expect to sign in the next two weeks, RJ's sales manager Amy Law said.

The deal includes Mackintosh's toffees, Heards boiled sweets, Black Knight and Fabulicious Red Licorice, Oddfellows and Life Savers.

* Hawkes Bay firms new factory expected to bring 25 new jobs to Levin by Christmas**

Moving the sweets from Nestlé's Auckland base would mean up to 55 jobs are affected. But RJ's has signalled its intention to offer the Auckland workers jobs in Levin.

RJ's brand and service manager Tracey Crandall said the deal would mean lots more work for the Levin factory, on top of strong growth from its existing range, she said.

'We're looking at expanding our warehousing options and looking at off-site storage because we're already at full capacity.

'It's a small town and people here know us as one of the big manufacturers. People I've spoken to think it's exciting.'

The firm would need more machinery and some would probably come from Nestlé's Auckland factory.

Levin workers were looking forward to starting work on the new ranges, which would start rolling out not long after the deal was done, she said.

RJ's plans to keep making Nestlé's Black Knight licorice products as well as RJ's licorice.

'RJ's is the market leader, but when it comes to licorice, Black Knight is an iconic brand in itself and it has a different texture and flavour to RJ's, so we'll certainly be keeping that.'

The firm will manufacture all of the ranges in Levin, except Life Savers, which will be made in Australia by another Quadrant company, Darrell Lea.

Nestlé spokeswoman Margaret Stuart said the deal would allow Nestlé to concentrate on its chocolate and medicated lozenges ranges in New Zealand.

Although it was early days, some Auckland staff had made inquiries about shifting to Levin.

Both Nestlé and RJ's declined to talk about the value of the deal.

Horowhenua mayor Michael Feyen urged Auckland workers to consider moving south.

'A house in Horowhenua doesn't cost anywhere near as much as in Auckland, so it would be a good move, and they are welcome here. We like to have quality people come to the district.'