After being close to collapse in 2012 with a bleak future ahead, Darrell Lea has made a comeback and is now looking to expand into ice cream and muffins.
The Australian brand is now doing better than ever, after it was rescued by Queensland entrepreneurs, Tony and Christina Quinn.
Under their company name Quadrant Private Equity, the pair have built the business up over the past six years, and is now looking to expand from their iconic chocolate, licorice and sweets.
After being close to collapse in 2012 with a bleak future ahead, Darrell Lea has made a comeback and is now looking to expand into ice cream and muffins
Research has shown that customers are keen on summer treats, and the company plans to bring ice cream back over the warmer months.
Chief executive of Darrell Lea, Tim York, said the company has plans to partner with Everest Ice Cream to sell specialised Darrell Lea flavours.
These include the iconic Rocklea Road, peppermint nougat and peanut brittle.
‘Darrell Lea did used to have ice cream at its stalls and in some recent market research ice cream was one of the products that people really wanted to see us put our inclusions, chocolate and peanut brittle and other pieces like that into,’ Mr York said.
Darrell Lea also has an upcoming collaboration with Muffin Break and is planning to bring muffins to the menu.
Upon Quadrant Private Equity’s takeover of the confectionery company, they shut all Darrell Lea stores country-wide and instead decided to stock their products in retailers.

Research has shown that customers are keen on summer treats, and the company plans to bring ice cream back over summer

Chief executive Tim York (pictured, right), said the company has plans to partner with Everest Ice Cream to sell specialised flavours
The now wide range of retailers include supermarkets and Australia Post, ABC reported.
Mr York said that the company has boomed since the takeover in 2012, with revenue surging from $37.4 million in 2013 to $81.2 million in 2017.
‘If you can picture Darrell Lea going from selling in 60 shops where people once or twice a year would walk into those stores to all of a sudden Darrell Lea was available for people in over 3,000 outlets,’ Mr York said.
The company has also recently bought sweets brand, Lifesavers, from global giant Nestle.
This means that the lolly favourite will be made in Australia for the first time in almost 20 years.
Mr York also said the company is looking to expand their exports, as it is currently the number three licorice company in America, with room for growth.
The company has hopes to double or even triple their licorice business in America over five years.