FLEDGING airline Bonza has announced a partnership with the Mildura Chocolate Company, allowing the company’s chocolate freckle to reach new markets across all 27 of the airline’s proposed routes.
This week, the budget carrier, which is still awaiting statutory approval, announced the first food partners for its onboard flight menu.
The Mildura Chocolate Company’s giant chocolate freckle was selected among a range of Australian made food and drinks from across the 16 Bonza locations.
Business operations manager Joe Simonetta said it was an exciting opportunity for the Christie Centre’s social enterprise, the Mildura Chocolate Company.
“It does give us an opportunity to be exposed in big business,” he said.
“We have had a lot of support from a number of corporations … but it is just nice to be in a food service sector through Bonza and their menu.
“This is a new venture and opportunity for us, so we are really excited and we can’t wait to see it in the air.”
The Mildura Chocolate Company is the only social enterprise selected as a part of the menu, which features non-alcoholic beer, banana bread waffles, snag in a bag and more.
Dr Simonetta said it was a privilege to represent the sector.
“I think that it is quite good for the whole social enterprise sector, which is a group that is growing in our communities.”
Bonza is still inviting people to send in expressions of interest for the menu, as it will “evolve and expand” once it is up in the air.
The current menu options were selected using input from the public.
“We were very excited and it was obviously quite a privilege, especially because it is the public that have actually voted us to be a part of the menu with Bonza,” Dr Simonetta said.
“It is actually really nice to be nominated and selected by the community.”
Dr Simonetta was looking forward to showcasing what Mildura had to offer to a wider audience, and stated he was glad Bonza had opted to include regional products.
He said he hoped this could lead to the business expanding and growing bigger.
“We see huge value in the national exposure that we will be getting,” he said.
“We do currently sell nationally as well, with customers in all states, but I think this is a huge opportunity for greater exposure.”
Bonza chief commercial officer Carly Povey said that when putting together the all Aussie menu, the team couldn’t go past the chocolate freckle.
“It’s the perfect sweet treat for young and young-at-heart customers,” she said.
“We were drawn to Mildura Chocolate Company’s focus on community and the fact they reinvest profits into creating training and employment opportunities for locals. This really aligns with Bonza’s focus on connecting communities.”
Bonza claims to be the first airline to offer an entire menu from its home country.
Passengers will be able to order from the menu via the airline’s app once aboard their flight.
