The story of an abandoned 5 storey flour mill converted to a Chocolate Factory and how you can get involved!
By Laura Rancie
Family-owned business, Junee Licorice & Chocolate Factory, is searching far and wide for Australia’s biggest chocoholics to taste new flavours being created in the lead up to World Chocolate Day on July 7.
Now being a self confessed chocoholic myself I’m only sharing this with you because there is room for the both of us. The search is Australia wide and all you need to do is …
… Wait, you didn’t think I’d give it away that easily did you? Read on for all the details.
This interactive experience will enable fellow chocoholics to provide valuable feedback, sharing preferences and helping shape the final creation that will grace the shelves of the Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory. From classic combinations to innovative twists, the tantalising options promise to tickle our taste buds and ignite the imagination. Trust me, I have it on very good authority (ssshhh…just between you and I) that a salt and pepper chocolate flavour could be one of the samples.
"We are absolutely thrilled to involve testers from across Australia in the development of our new chocolate flavour," said Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory Managing Director Neil Druce.
"World Chocolate Day is the perfect occasion to celebrate new flavours, and what better way to honour the day than by collaborating with the people who are most passionate about chocolate?” Mr Druce said.
"I am excited to hear our testers' opinions and taste preferences to help us create something truly unique for World Chocolate Day, and we can't wait to see their enthusiasm unfold as we embark on this flavour-filled journey together."
So how did all this come around?
The Founder
Back in 1962 Alan Druce "Poppy Dru” made the outlandish step of converting his 3000 acre farm to organics. Being from the rural township of Ardlethan you can imagine what his neighbours thought of the change.
Poppy Dru’s youngest and only son, Neil Druce decided to follow in his fathers footsteps with organic farming, and the Green Grove farm took major leaps forward growing organic wheat and spelt. Then one day their small onsite mill broke. Neil went on the hunt for a flour mill to continue milling their products. He discovered a five story, abandoned flour mill just up the road in Junee NSW.
ABOVE: Built in 1935 Neill was instantly charmed by the old Flour Mill building Junee. Suddenly he thought it could be more than just a flour mill and a BIG DREAM was born for the small NSW town just north of Wagga Wagga.
In 1998 Neil purchased the building that had been abandoned for over 30 years and began the renovations! He was new to Junee and the locals definitely thought him crazy when he told them over a pub feed his grand plans of creating a licorice and chocolate factory that people would travel to see, both domestically and internationally. (My inner Kevin Costner whispers, If you build it … they will come.)
ABOVE: What the site looks like today.
What does a Flour Mill and Licorice have in common?
Flour is one of the main ingredients in licorice, didn't know that? Either did we! 2001 saw the installation of the licorice factory and to say the first batch of licorice went badly is an understatement but that didn't show down Neil's passion for perfecting the art.
Two years later, Neil thought it was time to bring in the addition of chocolate! GREAT idea Neil! That's when the tourists really started liking Junee.
The Old Flour Mill Today
Nowadays the family are producing licorice and chocolate five days a week and selling Australia wide and internationally. Employing over 60 locals Junee Licorice and Chocolate are a hub of activity with guided tours, hands on chocolate experiences, a licensed restaurant and live music.
How You Can Be Involved
OK. As promised, to be involved with the Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory taste testing ahead of World Chocolate Day, just head over HERE and when the pop down menu appears, sign up to be a taste tester! No thanks necessary. Just doing my part to make the world a better place.
