Brisbane Economic Development Agency Archives

Tom’s Confectionery Warehouse in Hendra Highlights Brisbane’s Global Food Push

Photo Credit: Tom’s Confectionay Warehouse/ Facebook

Hendra’s own Tom’s Confectionery Warehouse, a local favourite since 1982, highlights the established Brisbane business contributing to the city’s vibrant scene as official programs work to help local food enterprises reach global markets.

Brisbane Boosts Global Food Ambitions

The Brisbane Economic Development Agency (BEDA) is actively helping local food and beverage companies expand internationally through its Future Food Global Accelerator program. Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner stated that Brisbane’s diverse food and beverage scene significantly contributes to making the city a great place to live and work.

He affirmed the Council’s pride in supporting local businesses as they target international markets, noting that the accelerator program is one of several initiatives designed to back startups and build Brisbane’s reputation as an excellent place for business. The Lord Mayor also highlighted the city’s strong manufacturing capabilities, research institutions, and thriving culinary scene as key factors enabling bold ideas to become a reality.

Now in its eighth year, the month-long accelerator provides tailored support and connects businesses with industry experts. The 2025 program is set to run throughout February. Since commencing in 2018, BEDA’s Future Food Initiative has assisted over 400 businesses, including well-known local names such as Merlo Coffee and New Farm Confectionary.

Spotlight on Hendra’s Sweet Spot

Tom’s Confectionery Warehouse in Hendra represents the local enterprise that enriches Brisbane. Established in 1982 with the tagline “making sweet memories,” the Hendra warehouse is known for its extensive variety of products. Shoppers can find a wide selection of lollies, chocolates, snacks like chips and nuts, and various drinks.

*Red Clouds*
*Photo Credit:* *Tom’s Confectionay Warehouse/ Facebook*

*Sour Worms*
*Photo Credit:* *Tom’s Confectionay Warehouse/ Facebook*

The store features items from the company’s Tom’s Sweets line, including Red Clouds and Sour Worms, alongside seasonal goods and party supplies. Customer feedback often highlights the vast international product range and the friendly, helpful staff. The store is noted for being clean and well-organised, though some mention prices may be slightly higher than elsewhere.

The Hendra store even received notable praise in 2019, reportedly from international superstar Taylor Swift who described their candy as “Legit. Candy.”

Growth and Recognition

Beyond its Hendra roots and online store, Tom’s Confectionery Warehouse has expanded its physical presence. In late 2023, the company opened a large new store in Melbourne’s Highpoint Shopping Centre. This newer location gained significant attention in January 2024 when it achieved a Guinness World Record for featuring the largest pick ‘n’ mix aisle globally.

City’s Economic Advantage

The drive to support businesses like Grove Juice and the backdrop provided by established local favourites like Tom’s aligns with Brisbane’s broader economic strategy. According to BEDA’s State of The City report, the city’s advanced manufacturing sector is expanding five times faster than the national average.

Furthermore, Brisbane’s location offers direct access to the vast Asia-Pacific market, which boasts a combined GDP of $90 trillion and represents 47% of global trade. This provides local manufacturers with a significant competitive edge on the world stage.

Published Date 11-April-2025

Sustainable Spirits: Milton Rum Distillery Leads the Way with Future Food Initiative

Upon completing his studies at the esteemed University of Queensland, Alexander Bell, the mastermind behind Australia’s newest boutique rum distillery, charted an unconventional course. Departing from the traditional path in his field, he embarked on a venture to establish his own distillery, driven by the historical legacy of the long-lost Milton Rum Distillery, once an illustrious rum producer.

Leveraging his engineering skills, Bell ingeniously devised a compact continuous-column still that harmoniously merges seven distinct stills into a singular apparatus, bestowing the distillery with the remarkable ability to craft exceptional rum of unparalleled quality at a fraction of the cost borne by its counterparts.

Sustainable Spirits: Milton Rum Distillery Leads the Way with Future Food Initiative — *Photo Credit: Facebook / Milton Rum Distillery*

Whilst traditional distilleries dutifully uphold artisanal methods, this visionary establishment pioneers novel production techniques and harnesses cutting-edge technology to replicate the phenomenal outcomes yielded by time-honoured practices. Consequently, it breathes life into a diverse array of locally concocted rum expressions, transcending geographical boundaries, and competes valiantly with industry giants, all whilst fostering affordability.

In addition to its awe-inspiring output capabilities, the distillery remains firm in its unwavering commitment to energy conservation and resource efficiency. Its meticulously tailored still operates with remarkable efficiency, consuming considerably diminished volumes of water and electricity when compared with traditional counterparts.

As an inspired touch, the distillery ingeniously harnesses the potential of food waste, utilising discarded fruit skins within its distillation process. These sustainable endeavours not only curtail operational costs but also minimise waste.

The fruits of their labour have not gone unnoticed. Milton Rum Distillery has been the recipient of a multitude of esteemed awards, including the coveted Melbourne International Spirits Competition prize for Australian Rum Distillery of the Year in 2020. Bell’s vision extends far beyond the confines of the distillery as he passionately sources ingredients from the surrounding Brisbane suburbs, thereby forging vital bonds with the local community.

Integral to the distillery’s triumph lies its active involvement in the Future Food Initiative, an empowering initiative spearheaded by the Brisbane Economic Development Agency. Through this transformative program, the distillery secures invaluable access to discerning investors, experienced mentors, and influential contacts within the expansive food industry, propelling its accelerated growth.

Collaborative partnerships with esteemed social enterprises, exemplified by HELP Enterprises, empower the distillery to achieve scalability whilst concurrently affording individuals with disabilities meaningful employment opportunities.

Bolstered by the unwavering support of BEDA, Milton Rum Distillery has successfully permeated the shelves of renowned chain liquor stores, including the likes of Dan Murphy’s, BWS, First Choice, and Vintage Cellars. And as Brisbane gears up to claim the spotlight in the countdown to 2032, Alexander Bell urges aspiring enterprises to seize the plethora of opportunities that await.

Regarding the market trends indicating rum as the next prominent spirit, Bell expresses confidence in their position to seize this opportunity. However, Bell also recognizes that sustainability and quality will be crucial drivers of value in the future, and as a result, they are committed to continuously improving their processes and value chain to enhance sustainability.

Published 20-June-2023