Company Profile

SWEET WILLIAM
HISTORY

In 1999 the Soy Chocolate Company trading as 'Sweet William' purchased a 70 year-old Sydney-based confectionery manufacturer. The new Sweet William chocolate business decided to concentrate on the production of dairy free and soy chocolate to meet the growing consumer interest in soy products and the trend towards healthier products.

Within the first two years of operation Sweet William chocolate captured the national and international confectionery markets' attention:

• Sydney International Fine Food Fair, it was awarded Best New Retail Product for 1999 (view Award Certificate)
  
• Selected as a showcase Australian product at the prestigious SIAL exhibition in Paris, France, October 2000
  
• Achieved national distribution through Woolworths and Coles supermarkets

The Soy Chocolate Company
The Soy Chocolate Company, excited by consumers' response to the Sweet William products and through its own research, had clearly identified the longer-term potential for a healthier chocolate on a global basis.

By December 2002, The Soy Chocolate Company had completed the first four stages of its Strategic Plan for Sweet William:

1. All existing packaging replaced with lighter, brighter and more visible packaging designs
   
2. Established its own packaging plant on the same industrial estate at Matraville, NSW
   
3. Purchased and installed new state-of-the-art chocolate making equipment
   
4. Quality Assurance Certification achieved - Codex Alimentarius HACCP

In September 2003 The Soy Chocolate Company also expanded into the United Kingdom selling under the Sainsbury 'Free From' brand and also under its own Sweet William 'Dairy Free' brand.

Sweet William
In 2004, having identified that 'Dairy Free' had a much broader appeal than Soy Chocolate, Sweet William commenced extensive product development introducing its own Dairy Free product range. After having achieved national supermarket distribution for 'Dairy Free', in March 2004 The Soy Chocolate Company changed its name to Sweet William Pty Ltd trading as Sweet William.

Sweet William currently exports to UK, Japan, Singapore, New Zealand, Taiwan and Malaysia and is in discussion with distributors in a number of other countries.

SWEET WILLIAM

Mission and Values

Our mission is to produce great tasting chocolate which provides consumers with a natural healthier alternative.

We are also committed to continually developing new products suitable for those with special dietary needs, such as the lactose and gluten intolerant, diabetics and those watching their cholesterol.

We aim to provide a totally natural, quality product with exceptional taste.

SWEET WILLIAM
Shareholders and Directors

There are four principals of The Soy Chocolate Company - the three founding directors of Sweet William - John Beale, a former CEO/ senior executive with an international corporation - Andrew Mandrides and Ralph Gilbert, two of the founders of the highly successful Kettle Chip Company.

In August 2003 they were joined by Milan Grzic, a Sydney accountant and businessman with experience in direct marketing.

SWEET WILLIAM
Management Team

The Sweet William management team is:

• Milan Grzic (CEO)
  
• Doug Currie (General Manager)
  
• David Maguire (CFO)
  
• John Beale (Operations and Export)
  
• Andrew Mandrides (Distribution and Logistics)
  
• Ralph Gilbert (Product Development)
  
• Carol O'Halloran (Marketing and Sales)

Sweet William Commitment to Quality

Sweet William is committed to continuous improvement and excellence in manufacturing confectionery.

As an integral part of this commitment to quality Sweet William completed a major capital expenditure program including the establishment of a packaging factory at Matraville NSW, adjacent to the existing production facility. The new factory houses the state-of-the-art chocolate making line, designed and built by Low & Duff (Ladco) in Scotland. The new line was commissioned in December 2002.

Quality Assurance - Codex Alimentarius HACCP, Food Safety and GMP Systems Compliance The company's facilities are fully accredited under the internationally recognised Silliker Microtech Codex Alimentarius Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) Food Safety Program. The HACCP program incorporates all of the requirements of Food Safety and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Systems In order to maintain accreditation, the company must comply with strict manufacturing guidelines, undertake and pass regular HACCP audits.