Yowie Group has secured a three year seasonal chocolate and confectionery licence for the Australian brands Violet Crumble, Polly Waffle and FruChocs, commencing 1 July 2026.
The licence covers Australia and New Zealand and excludes core bar products, which will continue to be manufactured by brand owner Robern Menz in South Australia. It includes standard minimum guarantee and royalty arrangements.
Yowie Group will manufacture and distribute 16 types of seasonal chocolate and confectionery products across retail channels, including supermarkets, convenience and independent retailers. The range will focus on Easter and Christmas products. The agreement targets net sales revenue of $6.5 million over the licence period.
“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome these wonderful brands to our seasonal sales lineup in Australia and New Zealand,” said Yowie Group global CEO Jarrod Milani.
“This licence is a strong validation of Ernest Hillier’s manufacturing capability and broader strategy to rebuild a scaled confectionery platform.
“These are some of Australia’s most loved brands, and for retailers Ernest Hillier offers a flexible, locally based manufacturing partner capable of delivering engaging, high-quality seasonal ranges.”
Minimum net revenue targets are staged across the three years, with $1 million in year one, $2.5 million in year two and $3 million in year three. These targets are based on comparable seasonal ranges and remain subject to market conditions and customer uptake.
Production will be carried out at Ernest Hillier’s Coburg North facility, which has been upgraded to support seasonal manufacturing. The site holds FSSC 22000 food safety certification and SMETA ethical accreditation, with expanded capabilities including chocolate moulding, panning, spinning and enrobing.
The licence is expected to increase factory utilisation, improve raw material purchasing scale and freight efficiency, and support additional local employment.
The licensed portfolio includes Violet Crumble, Polly Waffle and FruChocs, all long established Australian confectionery brands with a strong association with seasonal and gifting formats.
“This is a great outcome for Ernest Hillier and Yowie shareholders, and an important early step in building momentum across our manufacturing and brand platform. We’re moving with purpose, and shareholders can expect to hear more as further initiatives progress,” said Milani.