1868
You can trace the origins of New Zealand's favourite chocolate back to Macclesfield in this year, and the birth of J.H. Whittaker.
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1868
You can trace the origins of New Zealand's favourite chocolate back to Macclesfield in this year, and the birth of J.H. Whittaker.
1879
At the age of just 11, J.H. was apprenticed to a jeweller. But the gems he would eventually make used the world's finest cocoa.
1882
J.H. joined the cocoa department of a large confectioner in Birmingham.
1890
Such was J.H’s passion that he came to New Zealand, and began making his own chocolate out of his Christchurch home.
james henry and leah whittaker
J.H. moved to Wellington, and the company you know and love today was established- making this the most important year of all.
1911
He moved his business to Wellington, and his sons Ronald and James joined him to form J.H. Whittaker and Sons. The name that still graces the factory today.
wellington office in lambton quay 1911
Through good times and bad, world wars and rationing, the company survived and the reputation for quality grew.
james
ronald
1947
J.H. passed away and his sons and daughters took over the family passion.
1950s
Maurice Whittaker developed the Peanut Slab. It has since become iconic and the recipe has never changed.
1969
More space was needed. So the factory was moved to Porirua, where it still has its heart and home and continues to grow.
1970s
Blood is thicker than water, and chocolate is thicker than that. And so the 3rd generation of Whittakers, Maurice's sons Andrew and Brian, took the helm to continue the family passion. They still own the company and look after every step of the process including the sourcing, the roasting, the blending and the making.
brian
andrew
1990s
Whittaker's started to make their first 250g blocks. Now New Zealand's favourite blocks.
2000s
The 4th generation, Andrew's children,
Holly and Matt Whittaker joined the family's business.
matt
holly
So, the family desire to source only the finest ingredients, use only the world’s most precise machinery and to deliver the most delicious chocolate remains as true as ever.
And the innovation never ceases. Whittaker's introduced New Zealand's most advanced 5 roll refiner to make chocolate that's as smooth as possible.
L&P
2013
100s & 1000s
2014
all blacks
2015
jelly tip
2015
There have been many iconic collaborations with the likes of 100s and 1000s, L&P, Jelly Tip and the All Blacks.
Perhaps most importantly, the family’s constant tending to their craft has resulted in some significant awards. Whittaker’s are proud to have been voted Colmar Brunton’s "New Zealand’s Most Loved Brand” for the last 6 years, and Reader's Digest’s “New Zealand’s Most Trusted Brand” for the last 7 years.
And that's the history so far.
We're off making some more right now.
Showreel
We love making chocolate. But we also love making chocolate advertising. We’ve made so much over the years, it’s hard to keep up. So here’s a selection of some of the favourites.
New Vids
7 videos
Our Favourites
3 videos
Swear by the Slab
5 videos
Golden Oldies
6 videos
Reasons
5 videos
A Taste of Instagram
5 videos
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New Vids
-
Our Favourites
-
Swear by the Slab
-
Golden Oldies
-
Reasons
-
A Taste of Instagram
