Inside Nestle’s Campbellfield factory, a team of specialists is hard at work creating and testing new confectionery products to tempt Australian tastebuds.
Among them is process specialist Tony Raponi, who helped develop the world’s first caramel Kit Kat Chunky.
His knowledge of what Australian chocolate lovers want has helped keep confectionery manufacturing local.
Tony Raponi has what most people would consider a dream job.
Each day, he goes to work at Campbellfield’s Nestle factory, where he develops, tastes and examines new confectionery products before they hit the shelves of Australian stores.
Mr Raponi works as a process specialist, meaning he is part of the team behind some of Australia’s most successful Nestle products.
Factory manager Steve Elsworth said the dedication of the team to creating confectionery that appeals to the local market has kept the doors of the factory open at Campbellfield since 1964.
He said while many other companies were turning to overseas production, Nestle remained local because its employees understood how Australians wanted their chocolate to taste.
Mr Raponi lists the development of the caramel Kit Kat Chunky and natural-coloured Smarties among his greatest achievements.
“We were the first in the world to make the Kit Kat Chunky caramel. Nowhere else makes a product like that,” he said.
“It’s designed for the local market – Australians love their caramel.”
Mr Raponi has worked at the factory for 38 years after taking what was meant to be a temporary job in 1978.
He learnt so much during this short stint at Nestle that he decided to stay on.
Mr Raponi believes people would be most surprised to learn that his job is quite technical and involves countless trials of products before they are released to the market.
“We continually look at the shape, taste and look of a product to make sure it delivers what the consumers want,” Mr Raponi said.
“Even when a trail doesn’t go well, we learn a lot.”
Mr Elsworth said the factory employed about 350 people, ranging from those who work in the factory making and packing the confectionery, to product developers and engineers.
The company trials adaptations of popular products each year to tempt consumers with new variations on their favourite treats.
In addition to making Kit Kats and Smarties, the factory also manufactures Milky Bars, Crunch, Aero and Violet Crumble.
Mr Elsworth said a lot of work was currently being done on the Milky Bar.
“Confectionery is all about the taste. We are continually looking at our brands to keep the products fresh and provide new offerings to the public,” he said.
“It is important we continue to innovate and move with the times.”
