How Mosman’s Andrew Turnbull went from lollipop importer to owner of Fiji’s award-winning Tokoriki Island Resort

HE helped introduce the world to the Chupa Chup lollipop made famous by 1970s TV detective Kojak, now Andrew Turnbull is proving to be successful with an even sweeter venture.

Andrew and Yvonne Turnbull at their Mosman home.

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SCEPTICS thought he’d had too much sun when Andrew Turnbull of Mosman announced he was buying a resort in Fiji.

Even his wife Yvonne raised her eyebrows and called him a few names before she was won over.

“Everyone said I didn’t have a clue about running a resort but my wife and I had travelled around the world and we knew what we liked in a hotel,” he said.

Tokoriki Resort has been named the top hotel in Fiji for three years running.

A walk along the beach at Tokoriki.

It was a far cry from Turnbull’s then job as an importer of lollies, including bringing Chupa Chups from Spain to the rest of the world.

The lollipop was made famous in the 1970s after actor Telly Savalas used them as his chief prop in the gritty cop show Kojak.

But the Turnbulls’ success with the resort has been equally sweet.

The couple have now owned the Tokoriki Island Resort for 21 years and for the third year running, the resort has been named by TripAdvisor as the top hotel in Fiji. The resort also ranks among the top one per cent of hotels in the world.

The romantic resort, located in the Mamanuca Islands, is for adults only and all its bures and villas are beachfront.

The Turnbulls’ daughter Jenna was only 12 when the family was on a holiday at Tokoriki and she announced to her dad that the resort was for sale.

Mr Turnbull imported Chupa Chup lollipops.

TV cop Kojak was famous for his love of Chupa Chups.

Now Jenna and her husband Joel Ross are in line to take over the resort, and a planned second resort, when the Turnbulls retire.

The couple currently divide their time between Fiji, their Mosman home of 40 years and a Hunter Valley property.

“We spend about a week each month in Fiji,” Mr Turnbull said.

He said running a successful resort, like any business, is about “good timing, common sense, hard work and people skills.”

“And the resort is small enough to be personalised,” he said.

Dinner for two at Tokoriki.

Room with a view.

However, Mr Turnbull confesses he initially struggled to understand the Fijian culture.

“We had to learn how to work with the Fijians,” he said.

Now the Turnbulls consider the staff as part of the family and many of them have been there since the start.

Mrs Turnbull has been instrumental in the resort’s success, including the interior design and gardens.

“There isn’t a light switch or a coat of paint my wife hasn’t chosen,” said Mr Turnbull.

Details: tokoriki.com