All in a day’s work: Free wine, all-you-can-eat chocolates and beer bargains for lucky SA workers

Haigh’s, Menz, Penfolds and Golden North workers get more than the honour of working for a beloved SA business – they get perks that’ll make you question your own arrangement!

Menz Confectionery national marketing manager Polly Love is here to confirm that the imaginings of every SA chocoholic are actually reality.

“One of the first questions I get asked when people find out I work for Menz Confectionery is ‘do you get to eat chocolate all day?’ and the answer is yes!” she said.

The all-you-can-eat perk is a fact of working life for Menz employees, along with generous after-hours discounts.

The 4th generation SA family-owned business – home to the famous FruChocs and Violet Crumbles – is one of many much loved firms to share their staff treats policy with The Sunday Mail.

Menz Confectionery national marketing manager, Polly Love.

The company’s Glynde offices and lunch rooms are awash with bowls of free chocolatey treats for team members to consume throughout the day.

“I wish that I could say that I was sick of eating chocolate after nearly 15 years of working at Menz, but I am not at all,’’ Ms Love said.

On top of the daily treats, all Menz team members have a monthly ‘chocolate allowance’ of $20 to spend in its FruChocs Shops, along with $20 to use during their birthday month.

Likewise, Haigh’s Chocolates has the ultimate work perk – free chocolate treats during work hours.

Manager Roncie Briggs said there were staff discounts, more freebies at Easter and Christmas, a staff wellness program and workers were happy to be test cases during new product development.

“These benefits are always well received and appreciated by all members of our team across our business,” she said.

Joe’s Kiosk manager Elliott Brown and staff member Chloe Linke. They, along with friends and family, get 20 per cent off at 11 company venues. Picture: Morgan Sette

If you like your chocolate with ice cream inside, apply at Golden North.

Managing Director Peter Adamo said employees have free ice cream products during breaks, get to be part of new product tasting sessions, take home discount prices, and an annual dinner.

“There is also free stock to local community groups where our employees are involved,” he said.

SA’s famous wine and beer brands obviously can’t provide the same perks for their people during work hours, but after hours is a different story.

Wine makers Penfolds, owned by Treasury Wines, gifts staff $900 in credits each year so they can buy the company products, and also at a discounted staff rate.

Mismatch founder Mark Huber said staff, along with their family and friends, enjoyed a 30 per cent discount at company venues.

“We are part of mightycraft now so staff get stock quarterly, like cartons of beers and ciders every quarter,’’ he said.

Just as happy are Penny Hospitality staff, with Director Hugo Pedlar saying work perks were a way to make the staff feel valued.

Joe's Kiosk manager Elliott Brown and staff member Chloe Linke were sampling products yesterday, but the perks go way beyond the front door of that shop.

“All of our team get twenty per cent off to enjoy with their family and friends across all of our 11 venues,” Mr Pedlar said.

These are Joe’s, Super Bueno, General Havelock, Paper Tiger, West Oak Hotel, Heat Café, Wax Bar, Super California, Ride Contour and Divide.”

Beerenberg Managing Director Anthony Paech said staff, family and friends discounts on strawberry picking were very popular.

Beerenberg siblings Anthony and Sally Paech at the manufacturing and office facility in the Adelaide Hills.

“The team at Beerenberg can enjoy strawberry picking with generous discount for their friends and family, generous staff discount on products from the Farm Shop and the Beerenberg Café and can also take home an abundance of factory seconds,’’ he said.

“To welcome new employees to the business they have a VIP tour with a delicious afternoon tea in the Beerenberg Café.”

Spring Gully Foods managing director Russell Webb said staff enjoyed “seconds” when there were packaging errors from the factory.

“We also have a staff discount for our shop,’’ he said.

“We hold team lunches throughout the year to celebrate diversity and support various causes; we also love to celebrate project milestones and personal achievements. We also do our best to support events and causes that our team get personally involved in.

“For us it’s about celebrating the team in a way that means something. We really enjoy being able to bring our people together.”