Rescue plan for Tom’s Confectionery Warehouse after founder Tom Jeanes dies

The man behind Tom’s Confectionery Warehouse has passed away but the business has been saved from liquidation and there are now plans for a sweet legacy.

The man behind the iconic Tom’s Confectionery Warehouse that gave sweet-tooth Queenslanders four decades of joy has passed away.

Thomas Jeanes, who founded the business in Hendra in 1982, died on June 19 prompting hundreds of tributes on his company’s social media account.

Despite the loss of Mr Jeanes, aged 78, there are now plans to continue his legacy with Redcliffe restaurateur Adiel Ben-karmona buying the assets of the business out of liquidation.

Mr Ben-karmona has unveiled a big revamp of its operations that will honour Mr Jeanes’ name for a new generation of lolly lovers.

Born in Toowong in 1943, Mr Jeanes was considered a “jack of all trades” with a career spanning truck driver, scrap metal worker as well as stints in a butcher’s shop and on trawlers.

But it was as the founder of Tom’s Confectionery Warehouse, one of Australia’s largest confectionery retailers and distributors, that he will be best remembered.

Tom Jeanes from the Confectionary Warehouse, Hendra with some Easter goodies

For generations of young Queenslanders, the flashing Tom’s Confectionery Warehouse sign in Nudgee Rd was the entree to a world of lollies sourced from all over the world.

Mr Ben-karmona, who owns the Pilpel Restaurant in Redcliffe, said the expansion of the Nudgee Rd site would include a Willy Wonka pavilion, coffee shop and even an ‘adults only’ lolly section for hen’s and buck’s nights.

“I used to visit the warehouse when Tom was alive and he was a great character,” said Mr Ben-karmona. “Not many businesses can lay claim to a 40 year history and I am proud to continue his legacy.”

He said the landlord had been extremely helpful in accommodating the expansion plans, which would take several months and see the business opening in time for the pre-Christmas rush. The famous sign would be reinstated incorporating an image of Mr Jeanes in a new logo.

“It was his business so we want to remember him,” said Mr Ben-karmona. “We also are planning a Tom’s Wall in the warehouse to tell the story of the business.”

He said there were plans to hire as many former staff as possible back once the business reopened. “We will probably create about 20 local jobs,” he said.