Ernest Hillier Chocolates

Ernest Hillier's Australian confectionery career followed an earlier period in the United States. He moved from England to San Francisco in the early twentieth century to study the confectionery and soda business. Together with his Australian-born wife, Magdalen May, he operated several restaurants. Many of these establishments were destroyed in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, prompting the couple to relocate to Australia. The Hilliers arrived in Sydney in 1906. Ernest Hillier soon became involved in refreshment services and entertainment-related catering. In 1911, he opened Hillier Refreshment Services at the Imperial Skating Rink, an operation described as Australia's first soda fountain. The success of the fountain led to further work, including responsibility for catering at the amusement park at Rushcutters Bay. During the same period, Hillier also managed Gaut's refreshment service and a fountain shop on George Street opposite Sydney's Central railway station. In 1914, Hillier established his chocolate manufacturing business. The company addressed a supply problem in the Australian market: chocolate had generally been imported from Europe and the United States, and the length of the journey, hot conditions and transport restrictions could impair the quality of the finished product. By producing chocolate locally, Hillier offered an alternative to imported goods and helped establish an enduring Australian chocolate-manufacturing enterprise. The Great Depression created a severe commercial challenge. Chocolate sales fell substantially in Sydney, leading Hillier to move the business to Melbourne. The Melbourne base became central to the company's later identity and manufacturing history. Hillier eventually sold the business, but the chocolatier continued under subsequent owners and retained a place in the Australian confectionery industry. A notable expansion occurred in October 2000, when Hillier acquired Newman's, another Australian confectionery company. The transaction broadened the business's domestic confectionery interests. By the 2010s, however, the company faced financial distress. Re:Capital acquired the business in 2014 but was unable to turn it around. Ernest Hillier entered voluntary administration in January 2015, with rising cocoa prices and increased competition identified as significant causes of the problem. The company emerged from administration in mid-2015 and was still producing chocolate at a Coburg North factory in March 2016. The business faced a further crisis in 2023. Administrators were appointed in June, and the Melbourne manufacturing operation was stood down. The reported pressures included increasing costs for raw materials and shipping, which reduced profit margins. In August 2023, the Yowie Group acquired Ernest Hillier's assets. The available reference material does not clarify the complete post-acquisition status of the brand, its manufacturing operations or its product distribution. Ernest Hillier is consequently best documented as a historically significant Australian chocolatier whose current status requires further verification.

• 2023

  Administration and asset acquisition

  [1]Ernest Hillier Chocolatesen.wikipedia.org

  Administrators were appointed in June, the Melbourne manufacturing site was stood down, and Yowie Group acquired the assets in August.

• 2015

  Voluntary administration and return to production

  [1]Ernest Hillier Chocolatesen.wikipedia.org

  The company entered voluntary administration in January and emerged from the process in the middle of the year.

• 2014

  Re:Capital acquires the business

  [1]Ernest Hillier Chocolatesen.wikipedia.org

  The financially distressed chocolatier was sold to Re:Capital.

• 2000

  Newman's acquired

  [1]Ernest Hillier Chocolatesen.wikipedia.org

  In October 2000, Ernest Hillier acquired the Australian confectionery company Newman's.

• 1914

  Chocolate manufacturing business founded

  [1]Ernest Hillier Chocolatesen.wikipedia.org

  Ernest Hillier began manufacturing chocolate locally in Australia, reducing reliance on imported European and American chocolate.

• 1911

  Hillier opens an early Australian soda fountain

  [1]Ernest Hillier Chocolatesen.wikipedia.org

  Ernest Hillier opened Hillier Refreshment Services at the Imperial Skating Rink, described as Australia's first soda fountain.

• 1906

  The Hilliers relocate to Sydney

  [1]Ernest Hillier Chocolatesen.wikipedia.org

  After the destruction of several San Francisco establishments in the 1906 earthquake, Ernest and Magdalen Hillier moved to Sydney, Australia.

• Business moves from Sydney to Melbourne

  [1]Ernest Hillier Chocolatesen.wikipedia.org

  Following a sharp decline in Sydney chocolate sales during the Great Depression, Hillier transferred the business to Melbourne.

A heritage Australian chocolatier associated with locally manufactured chocolate, long operating history and a broad assortment of confectionery products.

• Chocolate

  Chocolate confectionery range

  The company produced a broad portfolio of chocolate confectionery for the Australian market. Reference material describes the range as exceeding 600 chocolate products, but does not provide a reliable product-by-product catalogue or identify specific current flagship items.

• 2023

  Sell assets to Yowie GroupM&A

  Background

  The company entered another financial crisis amid rising raw-material and shipping costs and weakening profit margins.

  Action taken

  Administrators were appointed in June, and Yowie Group bought the company's assets in August.

  Aftermath

  The transaction transferred the assets to Yowie Group, but the available material does not establish the extent to which branded production or distribution continued.

  Source

• 2015

  Enter voluntary administrationOther

  Background

  The company faced financial distress after rising cocoa costs and stronger competition undermined its performance.

  Action taken

  Ernest Hillier entered voluntary administration in January 2015.

  Aftermath

  The company emerged from administration later in 2015 and continued manufacturing at Coburg North for at least part of the following period.

  Source

• 2000

  Acquire Newman'sM&A

  Background

  The company pursued expansion within Australia's confectionery sector.

  Action taken

  Ernest Hillier acquired Australian confectionery company Newman's in October 2000.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition broadened the business's domestic confectionery interests.

  Source

• 1914

  Establish local chocolate manufacturingStrategy

  Background

  Australian consumers depended heavily on imported chocolate, which could deteriorate during long overseas transport and exposure to difficult climatic conditions.

  Action taken

  Ernest Hillier established a locally manufacturing chocolatier business in Australia.

  Aftermath

  The decision created a long-running Australian chocolate business and became a defining part of the brand's heritage.

  Source

• Move production from Sydney to MelbourneStrategy

  Background

  Chocolate sales in Sydney declined sharply during the Great Depression.

  Action taken

  The business was relocated to Melbourne.

  Aftermath

  Melbourne became the company's principal operating and manufacturing base.

  Source

1. 1Ernest Hillier Chocolatesen.wikipedia.org