Factory tours for public

Press, 1 September 1989, Page 34

Factory tours for public

Christchurch families will have the chance to see how cookies and candy are made during the next 10 days. Mayell Foods, Ltd, which makes products under the Cookie Time and Candy Time labels, is opening its factory to visitors. The factory is on the Main South Road in Templeton (three minutes from Hornby).

Visitors will follow a yellow brick road around the factory to see products such as giant choco-

late chip cookies, muesli bars and chocolate fish being made.

The sales and marketing director, Mr Michael Mayell, expects the factory tours to be very popular. “Our products are sold in supermarkets, dairies and garages around New Zealand and are very well known. This is a chance for people to see how they are made.” He said that the company received continual requests from schools and

groups to tour the factory.

“As a result, we decided we should open it to the public for 10 days to gauge their interest. We may want to continue to offer factory tours.” Originally founded on chocolate chip cookies, Mayell Foods now sells a wide variety of products. Last year, the company bought the marshmallow side of a candy manufacturer which had gone into receivership, expanding its product range further with chocolate-coated marshmallow confectionary.

“Chocolate chip cookies are still our most popular line and are a familiar sight in their large cookie jars,” says Mr Mayell. The factory tours will be self-guided, with guests following a yellow brick road. This will take them past the manufacturing lines of both cookies and candy and to the factory shop. Story boards will be positioned at various points along the route. Each person will receive a cookie fresh off the production line and a printed hat, for a cost of $l.