On 1 November, beloved Australian chocolate brand Darrell Lea officially reopened its Ingleburn factory. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was there to celebrate the occasion, joining Darrell Lea CEO James Ajaka in the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“A touch of home is something that the name Darrell Lea has for Australians,” the Prime Minister said in his speech at the opening.

“You’re a home-grown success—a proud Australian creation that has gone on to triumph across the world. Ever since Harry Lea first started making toffees and candies out the back of a fruit shop in Manly in 1917, it’s been quite a journey.”

The factory’s reopening comes after a $45 million manufacturing expansion, which involved adding new machinery and expanding the factory’s facilities. The reopened factory now has the capacity to produce 42,000 gift boxes a day, which will serve the company well in the lead up to the busy Christmas period.

Darrell Lea CEO James Ajaka said, “It is an absolute honour and privilege to be a part of Darrell Lea, a business that has remained deeply intertwined with the essence of Australian culture.

“Over the past three years, we’ve experienced tremendous growth, and I cannot be more thankful for the 1,000 employees who are the heart and soul of our company, contributing their best work across all parts of the business day in day out, to driving Darrell Lea forward both locally and globally.”

Main image: The Hon. Anoulack Chanthivong, Beatriz Cullen, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, George Bagala, and Dr Mike Freelander MP.