Darrell Lea
Encyclopedia
Darrell Lea Chocolate Shops is an Australia
n company that makes and sells chocolate
.
It is privately owned by the Lea family, and is the largest privately owned confectionery manufacturer in Australia. It was established as a company in 1927.
Darrell Lea has 81 privately owned outlets and 1,838 outlets that are owned by independent contractor
s. During peak times, Darrell Lea employs at least 1200 people.
Darrell operates solely in Australia, though its products are now available worldwide through distributors in the USA, UK, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa.
The two popular products are Darrell Lea Original Soft Eating Liquorice (black) and iconic Milk Chocolate Rocklea Road. Darrell Lea's offers several confectionery
product lines ranging from box chocolates, to fresh licorice, to sugar-free products and fundraising bars.
in 1927 in Sydney's Haymarket
. During the Depression, a shop became vacant in Pitt Street, and a factory was built under the arches of the Sydney Harbour Bridge
. His first almond noughat creation was called Bulgarian Rock.
Monty and Harris Lea, two sons of Harry, opened a manufacturing operation in Melbourne
, with their first shop in Swanston Street
, in 1940.
Harry Lea died in 1957. Maurice Lea opened five shops in Brisbane in 1966 and delivered fresh stock until he (Maurice) retired in 1996.
In 1962, Monty’s son Jason Durard Lea (28 September 1942 - 12 September 2005), later the Managing Director of the Company from 1983 to 1998, commenced full-time employment with the company as a trainee manager.
Robert Lea, Harry's Grandson, opened a shop in Adelaide in 1966.
In 1982 the Kogarah factory was rebuilt due to a fire two years before, and set up with modern chocolate-making machinery.
In 2004, Darrell Lea licorice was a dessert ingredient at the wedding of Mary Donaldson
to Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark
.
and Christmas
, including:
In recent years Darrell Lea has had many demands for their liquorice from overseas, in particular the U.S.
, United Kingdom
and Canada
. They offer an ordering service to this end.
Darrell Lea's line of soft licorices are sold in Canadian shops as well as Target department stores
and Trader Joe's
grocery stores in the United States.
To see which outlets worldwide sell Darrell Lea products go to the Darrell Lea website.*Darrell Lea Chocolate Website
. Additionally, the company helps organisations such as Starlight Foundation and the The Variety Club, as well as other local youth groups.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n company that makes and sells chocolate
Chocolate
Chocolate is a raw or processed food produced from the seed of the tropical Theobroma cacao tree. Cacao has been cultivated for at least three millennia in Mexico, Central and South America. Its earliest documented use is around 1100 BC...
.
It is privately owned by the Lea family, and is the largest privately owned confectionery manufacturer in Australia. It was established as a company in 1927.
Darrell Lea has 81 privately owned outlets and 1,838 outlets that are owned by independent contractor
Independent contractor
An independent contractor is a natural person, business, or corporation that provides goods or services to another entity under terms specified in a contract or within a verbal agreement. Unlike an employee, an independent contractor does not work regularly for an employer but works as and when...
s. During peak times, Darrell Lea employs at least 1200 people.
Darrell operates solely in Australia, though its products are now available worldwide through distributors in the USA, UK, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa.
The two popular products are Darrell Lea Original Soft Eating Liquorice (black) and iconic Milk Chocolate Rocklea Road. Darrell Lea's offers several confectionery
Confectionery
Confectionery is the set of food items that are rich in sugar, any one or type of which is called a confection. Modern usage may include substances rich in artificial sweeteners as well...
product lines ranging from box chocolates, to fresh licorice, to sugar-free products and fundraising bars.
History
Darrell Lea has been in the ownership of the Lea family since it was founded by Harry Lea. Lea started the first shop in New South WalesNew South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
in 1927 in Sydney's Haymarket
Haymarket, New South Wales
Haymarket is a locality of Sydney's city centre, New South Wales, Australia. It is located at the southern end of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Sydney....
. During the Depression, a shop became vacant in Pitt Street, and a factory was built under the arches of the Sydney Harbour Bridge
Sydney Harbour Bridge
The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a steel through arch bridge across Sydney Harbour that carries rail, vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian traffic between the Sydney central business district and the North Shore. The dramatic view of the bridge, the harbour, and the nearby Sydney Opera House is an iconic...
. His first almond noughat creation was called Bulgarian Rock.
Monty and Harris Lea, two sons of Harry, opened a manufacturing operation in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, with their first shop in Swanston Street
Swanston Street, Melbourne
Swanston Street is a major thoroughfare in the centre of Melbourne, Australia. It is historically one of the main streets of central Melbourne, laid out in 1837 as part of the Hoddle Grid, the layout of major streets that makes up the central business district...
, in 1940.
Harry Lea died in 1957. Maurice Lea opened five shops in Brisbane in 1966 and delivered fresh stock until he (Maurice) retired in 1996.
In 1962, Monty’s son Jason Durard Lea (28 September 1942 - 12 September 2005), later the Managing Director of the Company from 1983 to 1998, commenced full-time employment with the company as a trainee manager.
Robert Lea, Harry's Grandson, opened a shop in Adelaide in 1966.
In 1982 the Kogarah factory was rebuilt due to a fire two years before, and set up with modern chocolate-making machinery.
In 2004, Darrell Lea licorice was a dessert ingredient at the wedding of Mary Donaldson
Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark
Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark, Countess of Monpezat, is the wife of Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark...
to Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark
Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark
Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark, Count of Monpezat, is the heir apparent to the throne of Denmark. Frederik is the elder son of Queen Margrethe II and Henrik, the Prince Consort.-Name and christening:...
.
-
- Cadbury suffered another blow yesterday when it lost a lengthy legal battle with a rival over the use of the colour purple. An Australian judge ruled chocolate and liquorice maker DARRELL LEA was not trying to fool customers by adopting the shade. The Sun, 1 October, 2011.http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/money/city/article1040509.ecehttp://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/weird/spot-the-purple-difference/story-e6frev20-1111116041510http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2005/03/08/1110160826528.html
Products
Their range comprises 500 products, with 60 extra items created for EasterEaster
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
and Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
, including:
- Assorted Chocolate Box
- Assorted Chocolate Carton
- Assorted Liqueurs Gift Box
- Bulgarian Rock
- Cherry Liqueur Gift Box
- Caramel Snows
- Chocolate Praline Shells Box
- Coffee Creams
- Dark Chocolate Box
- Dark Chocolate Carton
- Dark Chocolate Ginger Carton
- Hard Centres Chocolate Box
- Hard Centres Chocolate Carton
- Hazelnut & Honey Gift Box
- Liquorice
- Macadamia Presentation Box
- Milk & Dark Ginger Box
- Milk Chocolate Box
- Milk Chocolate Carton
- Peppermint Cream Gift Box
- Peppermint Milk & Dark Chocolate Carton
- Praline Sweet Hearts Gift Box
- Rocklea RoadRocky road (dessert)Rocky Road is a type of dessert made up of milk chocolate and marshmallow which is usually served in individual portions such as a cupcake or in American cuisine, as an ice cream flavor.-Australia:...
- Rose Turkish Delight Box
- Soft Centre Chocolate Carton
- Soft Centres Chocolate Box
- Traditional Chocolate Box Assortment
- Traditional Creams Box
In recent years Darrell Lea has had many demands for their liquorice from overseas, in particular the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. They offer an ordering service to this end.
Darrell Lea's line of soft licorices are sold in Canadian shops as well as Target department stores
Target Corporation
Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
and Trader Joe's
Trader Joe's
Trader Joe's is a privately held chain of specialty grocery stores headquartered in Monrovia, California. , Trader Joe's had a total of 365 stores. Approximately half of its stores are in California, with the heaviest concentration in Southern California, but the company also has locations in 30...
grocery stores in the United States.
To see which outlets worldwide sell Darrell Lea products go to the Darrell Lea website.*Darrell Lea Chocolate Website
Community involvement
Darrell Lea has sponsored a local high school in order to assist students in continuing their studies to completion, and a local facility which works with people with intellectual disabilityIntellectual disability
Intellectual disability is a broad concept encompassing various intellectual deficits, including mental retardation , deficits too mild to properly qualify as MR, various specific conditions , and problems acquired later in life through acquired brain injuries or neurodegenerative diseases like...
. Additionally, the company helps organisations such as Starlight Foundation and the The Variety Club, as well as other local youth groups.