Hospitality Business Magazine

Arguably it may be an ever-lasting relationship, as, for the seventh consecutive year, Whittaker’s has been voted most trusted brand of all those surveyed in the annual Reader’s Digest Trusted Brands survey.

The repeated success can be attributed to a number of things, says the company’s chief sales officer Matt Whittaker.

“We think it is a combination of our 122-year history, reliability for quality, and our innovation in creating tempting new products over recent years – sometimes in collaboration with other iconic kiwi brands, or in support of important causes. All this has helped us maintain that trusted status,” Matt says.

He believes the company maintains quality product as it makes all its chocolate from one factory in Porirua and controls the entire manufacturing process, from roasting the cocoa beans to wrapping the finished product.

“In that context, this award is a fantastic acknowledgement of all of our wonderful staff, who live our company values every day.

“We are also fortunate to have on our doorstep quality suppliers of ingredients we use to make our chocolate, which also enables us to tell a richer New Zealand story about the products we export,” he says.

The family business was also voted winner of the New Zealand Iconic Brands category and took out the top confectionery accolade too. These same results were achieved by Whittaker’s last year. Air New Zealand and Tip Top were highly commended in the New Zealand Iconic Brands category.

Comments from those surveyed included praise for Whittaker’s quality ingredients, business integrity, local manufacturing, prices, advertising, and care for the environment.

Matt Whittaker says the praise and repeated wins are an honour. He says the Reader’s Digest Trusted Brand award is seen as “a testament to our absolute commitment to quality and our genuine engagement with Whittaker’s Chocolate Lovers”.

Brands joining Whittaker’s in finishing in top slots this year are:

THE TOP 10– ACROSS ALL TRUSTED BRANDS CATEGORIES