Myths about Australia’s most iconic chocolate SOLVED: Why you can’t buy the delicious treats in ordinary supermarkets around the country
- Nestle have revealed the hidden secrets behind iconic Bertie Beetle chocolates
- The famous honeycomb beetle is more ‘successful in a showbag than in stores’
- Launched in 1963 to rival the Freddo Frog Bertie Bertie is only sold in showbags
The creators of the iconic Bertie Beetle chocolate have finally revealed the hidden secrets behind Australia’s favourite sweet treat.
The chance to snatch up a showbag with the famous chocolate and honeycomb treat at Sydney’s Royal Easter for only two dollars is considered a right of passage for adults and children alike.
First launched in 1963 and sold nationwide in milk bars and corner shops in the 1970’s – the beloved chocolate beetle is now exclusively sold at exhibitions and agricultural shows nationwide.
First launched in 1963 and sold nationwide the beloved Bertie Beetle is now exclusively sold at agricultural shows and 50 ‘retro’ confectionary stores nationwide
The famous honey comb beetle is ‘more successful in a showbag’ (pictured) than it was sold in stores
Nestle Oceania head of corporate affairs Margaret Stuart said the famous choccy beetle is ‘much more successful in a showbag than it ever was in store’.
‘Bertie has always been such a standout showbag. When people buy Bertie they’re not just buying the chocolate honeycomb, it’s also a really iconic part of going to an agricultural show,’ she told news.com.au.
There are only about 50 independent ‘retro’ confectionary stores that sell the honeycomb beetle, according to Chicane Marketing.
Bertie’s iconic branding – a white beetle dressed in a green leotard branded with a yellow ‘B’ and glasses – has also had a shake up in packaging and chocolate shape (pictured)
Chicane Marketing director Emily Williams said the famous chocolate performed incredibly well at shows due to generations of nostalgia.
‘It’s got such a long history and it’s synonymous with the royal shows,’ she said.
‘For people it’s memory. When they think royal show they think Bertie Beetle because that’s what they grew up with, and then they pass that on to their children and their children’s children.’
The honeycomb beetle has undergone many changes since the 1960’s when it was first made to rival Cadbury’s popular Freddo Frog.
The original manufacturer Hoadley’s Chocolates used the trimmings from Violet Crumble to create the sweet treat before switching to freshly made honeycomb pieces in 2011.
Bertie Beetle chocolate (pictured) previously used trimmings from Violet Crumble for the iconic honey comb crunch
Bertie’s iconic branding – a white beetle dressed in a green leotard branded with a yellow ‘B’ and glasses – has also had a shake up in packaging and chocolate shape.
The treat was a ‘little beetle-shaped chocolate wrapped in foil’ before it became the recognisable dairy product that children flock to every year at the Royal Easter Show.
The Bertie Beetle showbags at the 2021 Easter show include the triple deal, bonanza, gold and retro bags that range in price between $2 and $18.
Chicane Marketing director Emily Williams said Bertie Beetle chocolates (pictured) performed incredibly well at shows due to generations of nostalgia.