Sweet union for home-grown business this Easter

20 March 2012: Australian owned and run online experience retailer RedBalloon has partnered with national confectioner Darrell Lea to encourage consumers to support Australian retail and purchase local products this Easter.

Australians spent around $166 Million on Easter chocolate and confectionary in 2010[1], and with ABS figures placing all chocolate imports for 2010 at $359 Million[2], much of this sweet profit is bypassing Australian businesses and heading straight overseas.

RedBalloon Retail Manager Kasey Willoughby said “Consumers are becoming more and more discerning when it comes to supporting Australian business, so we see this partnership as an opportunity to join forces with an iconic Australian brand and show that home-grown businesses create great products.”

Family Business Australia CEO Philippa Taylor supported the collaboration saying “Australian businesses are the backbone of the Australian economy.”

“It’s all well and good to have a mining or manufacturing boom, but when that bubble bursts it will be the country’s family businesses who continue to contribute to the economy, and we owe our support to them.

“While thanks largely to the high Australian dollar, you may pay less for an imported product, consumers should remember that buying locally ensures money stays in the country, supporting the future of Australian business.”

Darrell Lea has been operating since 1927 and is Australia's largest family-owned confectionery manufacturer and retailer, employing more than 1000 Australians.

Commercial manager John Candi said “we are a specialty confectioner – we carefully control the distribution of our product because our customers are those who are looking for something a little more exclusive and unique when they make a gifting decision.”

The two RedBalloon/Darrell Lea gift boxes are available now at www.redballoon.com.au/giftboxes. Includes the Easter Egg Hunt box ($48, below right) and the Darrell Lea Favourites box ($85, below left).

[1] Cauchi, Stephen. The Age, 4/04/2010 http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/chocolate-how-much-is-too-much-sadly-not-much-20100403-rkvv.html

[2] Australian Bureau of Statistics, International Trade in Goods and Services Australia, Jan 2012 http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/5368.0Jan%202012?OpenDocument

- ENDS-

For more information or to arrange an interview or product image please contact: Lauren Ashton, Communications Specialist - 02 8755 0034 / 0404 136 765 / lauren@redballoon.com.au

Notes to the editor:

High res images of both products available to download here: http://yousend.it/FQbWfX (expires 26/03/12)

View the full range of RedBalloon Easter experiences at www.redballoon.com.au/holidays/easter

RedBalloon has been giving people the chance to fulfill their dreams for a decade in Australia and New Zealand. With over 2500 unique gift ideas including race car driving, hot air ballooning, horse riding on the beach, and tiger moth flights to massages, romantic dinners and getaways, RedBalloon has the perfect gift for any occasion. RedBalloon Experience Vouchers, Gift Certificates and Gift Boxescan be purchased online or in selectedretail outlets.

Delighting Australians since 1927, Darrell Lea – named after the original Lea family’s youngest son – has spent decades creating its iconic confectionery and finest chocolates for generations of Australians. Still a 100 per cent family owned company, our master confectioners pride themselves on making fresh quality and hand-crafted treats, including Soft Eating Liquorice and Rocklea Road, just two of the unique products we have perfected since first introducing them to our shops in the 1950’s. It’s this commitment to our products that ensures Darrell Lea is still one of the original Australian brands, determined to be a name you can trust and enjoy for years to come.