Polly Waffle is a 50 gram Australian chocolate bar. It is a waffle wafer tube filled with marshmallow and coated in compound chocolate. The confection had been introduced in 1947 by the Hoadley's Chocolate
Company, then taken over by Rowntree Mackintosh Confectionery in 1972. When Rowntree Mackintosh was acquired by Nestlé in 1988, the Swiss company continued producing Polly Waffles until it was discontinued in 2009.
What the Word Meant
The name Polly Waffle is associated with a unique chocolate bar that combines marshmallow and chocolate. The product was conceived by company accounts supervisor and family friend, Mayfield B. Anthony.
Before It Was “Polly Waffle”
Abel Hoadley opened a jam factory in South Melbourne, Victoria, in 1889, trading as A. Hoadley & Company. By 1895, business had expanded rapidly and Hoadley built a five-storey premises, the Rising Sun Preserving Works. He produced fruit preserves, including jams and jellies, candied fruit and peels, sauces, and confectionery, and employed a workforce as large as two hundred.
Where It Coalesced
Hoadley's Chocolates made the first Polly Waffle bar in Melbourne in 1947. In 1972, Hoadley's Chocolates was acquired by Rowntree Mackintosh Confectionery and became known as "Rowntree Hoadley Ltd". In 1988, Nestlé acquired Rowntree. The Rowntree chocolate brands were initially branded as Nestlé-Rowntree, until Nestlé dropped the 'Rowntree' name altogether.
Myths, Claims & “Firsts”
During the 1970s, the advertising slogan for Polly Waffle was "mmm, crunch, aah!". In mid-2009, a new recipe for Polly Waffle was released along with new packaging announcing the change. The new product was the same appearance as the older product, but contained a more sugary and brittle wafer. On 23 November 2009 Nestlé discontinued Polly Waffle after 62 years due to poor sales.
