Bulla pivots distribution model to save half a million choc tops and keep plant workers in jobs

Prior to COVID-19, much-loved Bulla choc tops were sold exclusively through cinemas nationwide as a staple snack for movie goers.

However, the outbreak of the pandemic resulted in the closure of movie theatres across Australia and left 500,000 choc tops facing landfill, and many workers at Bulla’s Mulgrave manufacturing plant facing unemployment.

Bulla was left scrambling to secure a new distribution model for the product and managed to secure a new partner in Coles to sell the frozen treats in Australian supermarkets for the first time.

Shoppers rushed to the supermarkets to pick up their beloved Choc Tops, with more than 100,000 purchased in the first two days of the product becoming available.

By securing a new sales and distribution channel, Bulla was able to redeploy many of its Mulgrave manufacturing plant staff, whose jobs came under threat when cinemas were closed – to pack the product to ensure it was suitable for sale at Coles.