Darrell Lea

Darrell Lea Chocolate Shops is an Australian company that makes and sells chocolate, liquorice and other confectionery.

It was privately owned by the Lea family, and was the largest privately owned confectionery manufacturer in Australia. It was established as a company in 1927, named after the owner's youngest child, Darrell Bernard Lea, born earlier that year. Darrell Lea had 81 privately owned shops and other 1,838 outlets. In July 2012 the company was put into administration and restructured. In September 2012 it was sold to the Quinn family. Further restructuring, including elimination of the majority of retail jobs occurred during August -September 2012. All company owned retail outlets were closed by, or on, 9 September 2012.

During peak times, Darrell Lea employed at least 1200 people.

Darrell Lea operates solely in Australia, though its products are now available worldwide through distributors in the USA, UK, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. The two popular products are Darrell Lea Original Soft Eating Liquorice (black and strawberry) and iconic Milk Chocolate Rocklea Road. Darrell Lea's offers several confectionery product lines ranging from box chocolates, to fresh licorice, to sugar-free products and fundraising bars.