SA-made Polly Waffle chocolate makes a return

The Polly Waffle has gone on sale again – but what will diehard South Aussie chocolate fans think of its remodelled look? Take our poll.

It’s been 15 years between “Mmm, crunch, aah!”, but confectionary connoisseurs can rejoice because the much-loved more-ish Polly Waffle is back on sale.

Off the market since 2009, the blast from the past is now available in the form of Polly Waffle Bites.

Manufactured in SA at Glynde by Menz, the sweet treats, which come in 125g bags and have a RRP of $5.50, will initially be sold here at independent retailers Foodland and Drakes SA, and by Menz FruChocs – both in its shops (Hahndorf and McLaren Vale) and online.

In the coming weeks they will roll out across the country, with stockists to include Coles, Woolworths and other independent retailers, petrol and convenience stores.

The new Polly Waffle Bites. Picture: Supplied by Menz

It’s a big order to recreate the deliciousness that is the Polly Waffle, but Menz chief executive Phil Sims is confident the company hasn’t bitten off more than it can chew. He says chocolate lovers who have been craving their guilty pleasure are going to be more than satisfied.

“The team at Menz have been hard at work recreating the magic of Polly Waffle with a modern, bite-sized twist, and we appreciate the patience of the Australian public during this process,” he says.

Polly Miller enjoys some Polly Waffle magic. Picture: File. Picture: Matt Turner

“(Bites) are a product that brings back all those memories and passion about the (Polly Waffle brand.”

Invented in Melbourne by Hoadley’s Chocolate in 1947, the Polly Waffle was acquired by UK-based Rowntree’s in 1972 and Swiss giant Nestle in 1988, before it went out of production in 2009.

Lara and Daniel Sims with an original Polly Waffle bar. Picture: File

Menz bought the intellectual property – including the all-important recipe, five years ago.

Mr Sims has previously explained to The Advertiser that “manufacturing complexities, expenses and additional time required”, mean the Bites version will be a permanent replacement for the traditional bar.

It was a wafer tube filled with marshmallow and coated in chocolate, while the Bites are pieces of vanilla marshmallow covered in milk chocolate mixed with crunchy pieces of wafer.

“We were able to get hold of original (Polly Waffle) bars and we dissected and analysed them,” Mr Sims says of creating the new snack-sized Bites.

And, like Fruchocs, which come in many flavours, other varieties of Polly Waffle Bites may be introduced down the (production) line.

“There is all sorts of potential,” Mr Sims says, adding Polly Waffle Bites could have similar spin-offs to Violet Crumble, which is also manufactured by Menz.

There was a collaboration with Peter Alexander in 2022, when Violet Crumble pyjamas were released, and it is also available as an ice cream in tubs and blocks.