Pineapple lumps or pineapple chunks are a chocolate-covered confection with a soft, chewy pineapple-flavoured middle from New Zealand. They are often identified as Kiwiana.
 | |
| Alternative names | Pineapple chunks |
|---|---|
| Type | Confectionery |
| Place of origin | New Zealand |
| Created by | Charles Diver |
| Main ingredients | Chocolate, sugar, pineapple flavouring |
History
edit
The Regina Confectionery Company in Oamaru introduced pineapple chunks in 1952.[1][2] Charles Diver, the confectionery chief and floor production-manager at Regina who would later formulate other classic Kiwi sweets, had the task of using up waste product from other lollies of the time. One sweet in particular — an early version of the chocolate fish with a pineapple-flavoured marshmallow middle — resulted in the most marshmallow left over, which Diver used to create pineapple chunks.[3][4] The product's name was changed to pineapple lumps by Regina in the early 1960s to give it a more catchy name.[5]
An alternative origin story states that it was the managing director of Regina, John Percy ('Jack') McNamara, who invented the pineapple lump. He is said to have worked with the factory manager Charles McLaughlin, a trained confectioner, to develop the recipe. McLaughlin is said to have prepared the liquid pineapple lump recipe in boiling pans, then to have delivered it to Diver in the starch room for moulding in a Baker-Perkins Master Machine.[6]
Cadbury obtained the pineapple lumps name and began manufacturing and selling them under its Pascall brand.[5] In 1995, Regina was bought by Nestlé NZ which shut down the Oamaru factory in 2001. Innovex Holdings purchased the factory from Nestlé, and in June 2001, established Rainbow Confectionery.[7][8] Rainbow sells pineapple chunks under its own brand and, in 2013, it also released pineapple chunks based on a slightly-modified version of Diver's original recipe under the Regina brand.[5][9]
Pascall's Pineapple Lumps were the last product manufactured at the Cadbury factory in Dunedin until its closure by Mondelez International in March 2018. Since the sale of all New Zealand-made stock, all Pascall Pineapple Lumps sold in New Zealand have been imported from Australia.[5][10]
Related products
editIn 2013, Fonterra released a limited edition Pineapple Lumps-flavoured milk in New Zealand after signing a licensing deal with Cadbury [11] In 2017, Jaffas Lumps were released in New Zealand by Cadbury for a limited time.[12] In 2019, Cadbury produced a fusion between Perky Nana bars and Pineapple Lumps called Perky Nana Lumps which were released as a limited edition product in New Zealand.[13] In 2019, Cadbury released a limited edition Dairy Milk chocolate block with Pascall Pineapple Lumps inside. Released initially in New Zealand, it was later also released in Australia.[14] In 2020, Cadbury produced a limited edition mashup of Snifters and Pineapple Lumps, known as Snifters Lumps.[15] In February 2024 a Pineapple Lump flavoured Squiggles biscuit was released.[16]
As of 2023[update], Pams markets a product similar to Pineapple Lumps using the name "Pineapple Flavoured Bites". Countdown also sells a similar product as "Pineapple Pieces".[17]
References
edit- ^ "Sweet as Kiwi lump story - Lifestyle News". NZ Herald. 5 April 2024. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
- ^ "Shopping with a penny". The Press. 8 July 1952 – via Papers Past.
One shop is at present offering candy sticks at a penny each and it is said to be possible to buy two aniseed balls or two "pineapple chunks" for the same amount.
- ^ Steward, Ian (12 July 2013). "Pineapple: Lumps or chunks?". Stuff. Archived from the original on 1 January 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
- ^ Ryan, Rebecca (8 May 2012). "Sweet as Kiwi lump story". Hamilton News. ISSN 1170-0777. Archived from the original on 1 January 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
- ^ a b c d Sargent, Ewan (19 March 2018). "Bye-bye Kiwi-made Pineapple Lumps (but the chunks live on)". Stuff. Archived from the original on 1 January 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
- ^ McNamara, Deryk (3 April 2024). "Story of pineapple chunks [Letter to the editor]". www.thepost.co.nz. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
- ^ Lin, Tao (17 February 2017). "The locally-owned confectionery company that Kiwis don't know about it". Stuff. Archived from the original on 1 January 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
- ^ "Our Story". Rainbow Confectionary. Archived from the original on 1 January 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
- ^ Ashton, Andrew (29 July 2013). "Family marks lolly's 60th". Otago Daily Times. Archived from the original on 1 January 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
- ^ Deguara, Brittney (9 April 2019). "Aussie-made Pineapple Lumps not cutting it with lolly-loving connoisseurs". Stuff. Archived from the original on 1 January 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
- ^ Fahy, Ben (1 May 2013). "Lumps in your milk? Yes please, say Fonterra and Kraft". stoppress.co.nz. Archived from the original on 6 January 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
- ^ "Jaffa Lumps tempt and tease Kiwi candy lovers". Stuff. 16 June 2017. Archived from the original on 1 January 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
- ^ Robertson, Kate (26 June 2019). "Perky Nana Lumps adding to our obsession with fusion food products". Stuff. Archived from the original on 1 January 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
- ^ Paine, Hannah (16 October 2019). "Cadbury releases Pineapple Lumps chocolate blocks in Australia". NewsComAu. Archived from the original on 1 January 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
- ^ "Is this the real reason why we can't have the original Snifters back?". Stuff. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
- ^ "Squiggles has a new flavour inspired by an iconic Kiwi lolly and we just smashed a whole pack". theedge.co.nz. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
- ^ Canham, Joe (3 March 2023). "All the knockoff Pineapple Lumps, ranked and reviewed". The Spinoff. Retrieved 2 March 2024.