Violet Crumble flavoured milk drink by Bickfords and Robern Menz
Sweet treats can’t get any more South Aussie than the latest bottled creation from Robern Menz and Bickfords, with support from Golden North – Violet Crumble milk.
SA Business
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There’s a new all-South Australian sweet treat on supermarket shelves nationally, and it’s linked to iconic Aussie favourite Violet Crumble.
Local producer Bickfords, known for its cordials, iced coffees and other non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, is producing a new Violet Crumble chocolate honeycomb flavoured milk at its Salisbury facility.
The new offering is part of a licensing arrangement with Glynde-based confectionery business Robern Menz, maker of the Violet Crumble and FruChocs chocolate brands.
Nailsworth-based Golden North, one of the nation’s best ice cream maker, is the milk supplier to Bickfords.
Robern Menz chief executive Phil Sims said the group was “innovating beyond the iconic bar”.
“It was always on our agenda to introduce a Violet Crumble milk drink as we knew the flavour combo was a no-brainer,” Mr Sims said.
“Collaborating with Bickfords’s has been a win-win for both businesses and to know that we are able to support other SA companies by sourcing local ingredients, like Golden North milk, means a lot.”
Bickfords Group sales and marketing manager Chris Illman said the partnership conversation was an easy one to start because both produce locally.
“Thanks to demand for the new product, Bickfords have doubled their production versus our original volume predictions,” Mr Illman said.
“We have a range of iced coffee dairy drinks therefore Violet Crumble complements our range.”
Robern Menz bought the Violet Crumble brand from global giant Nestle in early 2018, subsequently investing $4m on a factory refit and extension and new warehousing facilities.
It was supported by a $750,000 state grant and a $900,000 loan from the Investment Attraction Agency.
Violet Crumble is said to have been invented by UK migrant Abel Hoadley, who set up A. Hoadley & Company in Australia the 1890s — with the distinctive packaging said to be a tribute to his wife’s favourite flower and colour.
Robern Menz is also working towards the much-anticipated comeback of Polly Waffle in 2021.
It has also kickstarted a partnership with OTR-owned Krispy Kreme for two Violet Crumble doughnuts.
The Violet Crumble chocolate honeycomb flavoured milk is available nationally through Coles Express, Caltex, Drakes, IGA, Foodland, Romeos, The FruChocs Shops and Bickfords’s online store, Sippify.