
Company website
Industry: Retail
Company Size: 501-1,000 employees
Headquarters: Parkside, SA
Type: Privately Held
A family business that's serious about sweetness
The Challenge: Breaking the mould of supermarket distribution
'We only sell through our own retail outlets, direct to customers.'
As a fourth-generation family-owned chocolate business originating in Adelaide, Haigh's is no stranger to the ins and outs of chocolate world. Alister explains that his father, John Haigh, made a conscious decision to steer clear of supermarket-based distribution in the 1960s.
As with any company, being aware of existing and future challenges is a must. Alister doesn't need to sugar-coat these realities: There's always the potential for an overseas chain of chocolate shops choosing to open their doors in Australia, for instance.
However, this Chief Executive and Joint Managing Director has undergone enough business mentoring to keep his finger on the pulse and stay ahead of industry challenges.
He understands the impact an ageing population could have on his workforce, given that it's a labour-intensive business. When asked about the possibility of overseas expansion, Alister is realistic about the potential for this.
Making their products available for purchase online, within Australia, is the first priority. 'From that we could possibly look overseas. That would be our preference - to be able to supply direct to customers rather than have to sell to a third party,' he says.
The Solution: Selling direct to the public a winning recipe
'It isn’t just through product innovation that Haigh’s Chocolates are taking the initiative either. The company is the first in Australia to install a Baxter robot into their chocolate-making process to handle repetitive tasks.'
The Results: Constant innovation to match changing tastes
'By combining technical processes with business innovation, Haigh’s Chocolates is certainly taking a long-term approach to innovation.'
How TEC has made an impact on Alister's leadership development
'I always find it very fascinating to have a speaker come back a second time to see whether they've changed their tune from five to 10 years ago.'