Junee chocolate innovator wins by having HQ in regional Australia

By Leon Gettler, Talking Business >>

IT IS CLAIMED that 97% of people love chocolate. Whether that’s true statistically – or just a claim by a chocolate company – remains to be seen.

One thing for sure though, chocolate remains popular around the world. But is it healthy?

There are studies showing many dark chocolates contain heavy metals like lead and cadmium which can cause damage to kidneys and liver. Conventional cocoa is also a high pesticide crop. 

But Neil Druce, the founder of Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory, in the township of Junee, regional New South Wales, says his business is healthier than other chocolates because it’s totally organic.

“The main thing is the residue from the chemicals that are put on, the pesticides and weedicides.,” Mr Druce told Talking Business. “The bottom is the chocolate that would typically be in a muesli bar, that is artificial flavour, artificial colour.

“Then you’ve got compound chocolate … that use hydrogenated oils that are bad for your health.

“And at the top of the tree, you have the curvature chocolate or European style that uses the cocoa butter and cocoa mass. It’s hard to work with because it has to be tampered,” he said.

“They’re the three levels, so at the top of the tree you have a better product that’s better for your health.”

Upsides to regional Australian business HQs

Mr Druce said there were several advantages to running a business in regional Australia. He wants to see more businesses working there instead of consolidating on the coast.

“I find the price of land and building is cheaper. The supply of quality employees is there but there’s not too many,” Mr Druce said.

“To run a business in the country you have to have a bit of integrity because there aren’t as many people around and they remember if you rip them off.”

Mr Druce runs the business with his daughter. It doesn’t work for everyone but he said they get along well, despite their generational differences. He knows how to work with that.

“She’s very honest and tells me when I’m being dumb and things like that,” he said.

“That works all right. As long as you’re big enough to accept it. We don’t always agree. That’s when it’s wholesome. We have a discussion and we’re both big enough to think it through.”  

Reinvent every five years

Mr Druce said the constant feedback was always good for his business.

“Every five years, you’ve got to reinvent yourself,” he said.

Mr Druce said he sees Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory building its business by moving into agritourism.

“When time are great, we want to look after people but when times are tough and the economics are down, we want to be able to provide an escape at our venues for people to go and enjoy a cheap weekend,” he said.

He said the Riverina, where the business is based, is the food bowl of Australia.

“It’s the highest protein producing area in Australia and agrotourism fits in,” Mr Druce said.

“People are becoming more interested in where the food comes from. How does it work? It’s not something you grab off the supermarket shelf anymore.” 

www.juneelicoriceandchocolate.com

www.leongettler.com

Hear the complete interview and catch up with other topical business news on Leon Gettler’s Talking Business podcast, released every Friday at www.acast.com/talkingbusiness

https://shows.acast.com/talkingbusiness/episodes/talking-business-37-interview-with-neil-druce-from-the-junee

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