Page 34 - Food&Drink Magazine Aug-Sep 2021

SNACKS & CONFECTIONERY
Pleasurable bites of joy
Charlie’s Fine Food Co. owner Jacky Magid swapped commercial law for manufacturing 25 years ago. Kim Berry talks to her about her experience in the world of baking sweet treats, and the latest move into savoury delights.
CHARLIE’S Fine Food Co. has been making sweet tasty treats for more than two decades. In the last 12 months it has introduced its first ever savoury biscuit range (a trio of cheese biscuits), and vegan-friendly cookie dough. The new products are the latest evolution of a company committed to quality and staying competitive in a crowded market.
Jacky and her husband Ken bought the business out of administration. They had just had their first child and Jacky was explaining to a friend she didn’t want to practice law anymore and instead dreamt of running her own business.
“She looked at me and said, ‘you have a business!’ Ken was taking over Charlie’s and needed help. It had employees, customers, was making great products and needed nurturing. It was right there in front of me, and the rest is history,” she says.
“From day one, we never budged on quality. It has always been our mission to source the best ingredients and create all products from scratch. Our foundations are original recipes and traditional methods with a modern twist,” Magid adds.
The company specialises in bite size snacks. Its Mini Bikkie Bites incorporate Australian superfoods like bush finger lime and Kakadu plum as well as a traditional Choc Chip Cookie that has been on the production line since the very beginning.
There are Melting Moments in a range of sizes, which are made with natural colours and flavours as are its range of slices including brownies, caramel slices, and the vegan flourless superfood slice.
“We make seriously delicious ‘guilt-free’ snacks baked with
MAIN: Baked or straight from the tub, Charlie’s Cookie Dough is delicious.
LEFT: For 25 years, Charlie’s Fine Foods have baked treats with real ingredients and an uncompromising dedication to quality.
RIGHT: For Jacky Magid the lure of running her own business outweighted a lawyer’s life.
34 | Food&Drink business | August/September 2021 | www.foodanddrinkbusiness.com.au