Swiss chocolate company Lindt & Sprungli has opened a new $60m facility at Marsden Park in Sydney, as part of its plans to capitalize on the chocolate makers strong growth in the Australian market.
The purpose built facility, which is spread across 66,000m2 area, will employ nearly 350 people.
Lindt & Sprüngli’s Group CEO Ernst Tanner that the company’s decision to enter the Australian market nearly twenty years ago has proven to be one of the most successful ventures in the company’s history.
Tanner said: “Never did we anticipate the reception that Lindt chocolates would receive in Australia when we first entered the market here.
“I am delighted that the growth of our business in Australia has allowed us to not only expand our operations but to provide people in Sydney’s West with employment opportunities with Lindt.”
The firm is expected to create 80% of the new jobs at the facility to those from Sydney’s western suburbs which sits at the heart of the Western Sydney growth corridor.
The facility is part of the company’s $2.9bn investment in the Sydney Business Park which will host a range of retail and recreational businesses.
The factory has started making a new range of Lindt Easter eggs for 2017 using chocolate imported from Switzerland.
Tanner added: “The fact that we are spinning a new product specifically for the Australian public is a reflection on the many successes we have had here.”
The company said that the new range of Easter eggs will complement the success of Lindt’s Gold Bunny.
Lindt reported a 13.5% increase in its sales to CHF3.65bn for 2015 despite the challenging market conditions.
