James Henry Whittaker

James Henry Whittaker

DOB: 1868
DOD: 1947
Inducted: 2020
Industry: Confectionery

James Henry Whittaker is the founder of the world class artisan chocolate company Whittaker’s. The well-established Whittaker’s brand began in Christchurch in 1896.After training in chocolate making, James Henry began making and selling chocolates to locals from his horse and cart. Whittaker moved to Wellington in 1911 with his sons Ronald and James joining him to form J.H. Whittaker and Sons. The company has experienced the good and bad, through world wars and rationing, yet the reputation for quality has only grown over the century. In 1947, James Whittaker passed away and his children took over the family passion.

Whittaker's has market leadership in the block segment of the chocolate category, which makes up the majority of the NZ Chocolate market. Whittaker’s has also been named Reader’s Digest’s ‘New Zealand’s Most Trusted Brand’ 9 times in a row from 2012 to 2020.