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A lot can happen in 30 years

In 1993, after 18 years working for the global confectionery giant, MARS, Bruce Edward decided it was time to go out on his own. He wanted to create something different—a new range of innovative confectionery products that put quality and creativity first. For two years, Bruce researched market trends, developed product concepts and travelled overseas in search of suppliers and manufacturing partners.

In March 1995, he put everything on the line—mortgaging the family home, borrowing as much as the bank would allow and building a small factory in Ballarat. With that, Ferndale Confectionery was born.

In the early days, Ferndale was a true family business. Bruce developed the JILA® and JOLS® brands, designed the production strategy, and even built some of the machinery himself. His wife, Vicki, ran operations from the Ballarat office—taking orders, answering calls and making sure the kids got to school on time.

Bruce’s eldest son Jarrod, along with three of his school friends, ran the first packing machine. Stock was made to order—one batch at a time, one sale at a time. Bruce worked 15-hour days, knocking on doors, pitching JILA® and JOLS® to any wholesaler or retailer that would listen. His younger children, Tara and Leigh, spent their school holidays helping wherever they could.

The hard work paid off. By 2004, Ferndale had secured major retail contracts and was exporting to eight international markets. A year later, the company had firmly established itself as a leading confectionery supplier in Australia and was fielding enquiries from around the world.

A new era of growth

Under the leadership of Leigh Edward, Ferndale Foods Australia has grown into a leading manufacturer of its own brands, a trusted co-manufacturer, and a supplier of supermarket private labels and top snack brands. With a diverse and expanding brand portfolio, three specialised manufacturing divisions, and a commitment to continuous reinvestment, we’ve built state-of-the-art facilities and embraced cutting-edge technology to shape the future of mints, pastilles, protein bars, and confectionery.

Keep reading below to discover how Ferndale’ Foods Australia's new era is driving innovation, expanding possibilities, and creating the brands of today and tomorrow.

Ferndale Confectionery – Mints, gum, pastilles & jellybeans

The foundation of the business, Ferndale Confectionery is home to well-known brands like JILA®, JOLS®, LICORETTE®, SLIM FRUITS ® and JIBBA®, which are now distributed in over 14 countries. Ferndale is also a trusted manufacturer for private-label confectionery, producing large volumes for major Australian and international retailers like ALDI and DULUX.

The So Soft Marshmallow Co. – Australia’s most versatile marshmallow manufacturer.

Launched in 2018, So Soft quickly became one of Australia’s fastest-growing confectionery brands. The Delacombe facility now produces over 50,000kg of marshmallows each week, supplying 30% of the retail, private-label, food service and ingredient inclusion markets.

Foodline Australia – The future of snack bar manufacturing

With demand for better-for-you snacks on the rise, the Edward family expanded again—building a third, state-of-the-art facility capable of producing 135 million bars per year. As the largest in the group, this facility was designed to support both Ferndale Foods Australia’s own brands and contract manufacturing for Australia’s leading snack bar brands.

Engineered for unmatched flexibility, it can produce a wide range of bars, including caramel and nougat-layered bars, nut bars, muesli bars, diet and meal replacement bars, high-performance sports bars, high-protein bars, fruit snack bars, coated bars, and more. With the ability to handle diverse formulations and formats, it stands as Australia’s most versatile snack bar manufacturer.

A family-owned business, built to last

From humble beginnings in 1995, we’ve grown into a leading force in snack and confectionery manufacturing—but our values have remained the same.

• Commitment to Excellence – We take pride in producing high-quality, great-tasting products that meet the highest standards.

• Innovation & Growth – We continuously invest in new technologies, product development, and state-of-the-art facilities to stay ahead.

• Trust & Partnerships – We build strong, long-term relationships with brands, retailers, and consumers by delivering consistency and reliability.

• Better-for-You Focus – We believe in smarter, better-for-you snacks that don’t compromise on taste.

• Family & Community – As a proudly Australian company, we value our people, our partners, and the communities we serve.

In August 2021, the business consolidated under one name: Ferndale Foods Australia. Today, the company remains 100% family-owned and operated by the Edward family, committed to innovation, quality and bringing world-class products to market.

Three decades in, we’re still growing, still innovating and still making products people love.

History