Haighs chocolate: Beloved Adelaide chocolatier dies aged 93

The head of Australia’s oldest family owned chocolate company, Haigh Chocolates, has died.

John Haigh was 93 years old when died at his home on Friday.

A statement from his sons Alister and Simon on Wednesday confirmed the news, with the pair remembering Mr Haigh as “a beloved father, grandfather and great-grandfather”.

“John was a revolutionary in the chocolate industry. He will be greatly missed and always remembered,” the statement read.

“More than any other person, John Haigh is responsible for the taste of Haigh’s Chocolates that we know and love today.

“He transformed Haigh’s into a manufacturer of premium-quality chocolate that is internationally acclaimed and recognised among the world’s best.

“Besides the quality and the taste of the product, he also refined the exclusivity of the Haigh’s instore experience and the way in which Haigh’s is marketed to this day.

“He built the foundation for an incredibly successful family business that is expanding and trading strongly around Australia.”

Born on November 10, 1929 Mr Haigh was the grandson of Alfred Haigh, who founded the company and opened their first store in the Adelaide CBD in 1915.

John would join the company officially in 1946, becoming managing director from 1959 until 1990, when he continued on as chairman of the board.

He trained under master chocolatiers at Lindt and Sprüngli in Switzerland.

Funeral details are expected to be announced later in the week.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7r7HWrGWcp51jrrZ7y6Kdnqukrrmme8Wopp1nkpq5sMLEnWSsp6WptW6t1Kyrq5mcnq6vecKhppynnJbBqrHRZpuinaNirqixw2ZwbGeemsS0edKtpquxX2eAen%2FFbnBuaZaYsKWuj26acWiRl65ygZCfbpttYmmF