Whittaker's

J.H. Whittaker & Sons, Ltd, trading as '''Whittaker's''', is a New Zealand confectionery manufacturer specialising in palm oil-free chocolate. Whittaker's is the largest chocolate brand in New Zealand. Approximately 30% of their production is now exported. The company controls its entire manufacturing process in its facility in Porirua, identifying itself as a "bean-to-bar" manufacturer. James Henry Whittaker (1868–1947) started the business in Christchurch in 1896; it was later moved to Wellington, and then to its current location in Porirua.

==History== thumb|Whittaker's Chocolates & Confectionery Company's Fargo Truck alt=photo of chocolate bar wrapper|thumb|272x272px|Māori-language label for Whittaker's Creamy Milk James Henry Whittaker (1868–1947) worked in the British confectionery industry from the age of 14 and moved to New Zealand with his wife Leah Alice in 1890. He was a salesman for Cadbury's chocolate before and after his move to New Zealand. In 1896, he started manufacturing chocolate confectionery, selling it directly to customers using a horse and van. In 1913, he established a partnership with his two sons, Ronald and James, based in Wellington. The business became a limited liability company in 1937, with third-generation Whittakers still the sole shareholders in the company. In 1969 the company moved from Wellington to Porirua, because they needed more space and their premises at 167 Vivian Street were under threat from motorway development. The Peanut Slab was invented in the 1950s and Whittaker's began exporting it in 1985. In the 1970s and 80s they also produced Santé Bars, Toffee Milk Bars and K-Bars. The company began producing large blocks of chocolate in the 1990s. In 1992, the company formed J. H. Whittaker New Zealand Ltd.