Julius Romison, a Jewish immigrant, began manufacturing confectionery in Dunedin about 1884. It is said that his first confectionery making in Dunedin was done at home in the wash-house and kitchen, where there was a boiler and equipment to shape and wrap sweets.
Q: What is the brand story?
A: The factory site in Oamaru has been manufacturing confectionery since 1949 and was where “Pineapple Chunks” were first created and made. Rainbow Confectionery Ltd took ownership of the Oamaru factory in 2001. Rainbow Confectionery is the largest New Zealand made, non-chocolate confectionery manufacturer, supplying private label and branded (Rainbow, Awesome Value, Awesome Naturals, Regina) everyday and seasonal confectionery.
Q: What is the current product range and variants and what makes these products stand out in the market?
A: Gummi jellies (non-chocolate and choc enrobed), marshmallow products including Easter Eggs and choc fish, tablets and panned mints, and are the only New Zealand manufacturer of scale for Jelly Beans. The Oamaru factory is entirely gluten and nut free.
Q: What is innovative or unique about the product?
A: Awesome Naturals Milk Bottles are made with 50 percent New Zealand milk. Other products, such as Regina Pineapple Chunks, are made with juice concentrate. Rainbow can and do make sweets in a vast array of unconventional shapes, including animals, insects, jandals/gumboots/feet, iconic emblems, national culinary dishes and just about any shape you can dream up.
Q: Who is the consumer and what benefit does the product bring them?
A: Rainbow’s lollies are consumed by young and old and retail prices are generally targeted at ‘mainstream’ buyers. The product range is designed to encapsulate confectionery nostalgia, but equally developed for modern day lifestyle preferences with many variants being made from no artificial flavours or colours and all being gluten free.
Q: What consumer trend does the product support?
A: Made from no artificial flavours or colours, gluten free, nut free, portion control options.
For more information please contact Brett Simmons at brett@rainb0w.co.nz or +64 027 553 2340 or visit www.rainbowconfectionery.co.nz
