New Zealand’s original premium vanilla company, Heilala Vanilla, has launched its range into Australia’s biggest supermarket chains.
After more than 12 months of negotiations, a selection of Heilala products are now available in approximately 700 Coles stores and 839 Woolworths supermarkets throughout Australia.
Woolworths will stock the 50ml vanilla extract and the two-piece vanilla beans, while Coles will sell the multi-award-winning 65gm vanilla paste.
Previously, Heilala Vanilla has only been available through gourmet and specialist food stores in Australia.
Heilala Vanilla co-founder and CEO, Jennifer Boggiss, says the new partnership is a significant step for the company, which was established on the island of Vava’u in Tonga over a decade ago.
“Eleven years ago we harvested our first crop of vanilla beans after falling in love with the people of Vava’u and the place,” she says. “Vanilla was already growing on the island and we were instrumental in re-invigorating the vanilla industry there.”
Heilala pays its growers more than the commodity market price for vanilla beans. “From the start, our driving force was to create a premium vanilla brand that benefitted a community in a very remote part of the South Pacific,” says Jennifer. “We have seen first-hand the positive impact this has had on the local community.”
Vanilla has been available in New Zealand supermarkets for five years, with sales increasing every year.