Kiwis are in for a luxurious treat as Lindt, the Swiss master of fine chocolate, opens its doors on its very first store in New Zealand, located in Auckland’s Mānawa Bay Premium Outlet Centre, offering a haven of irresistible indulgence.
Opening today (Sept 19), the Lindt Chocolate Shop promises to be the ultimate destination for chocolate lovers. Visitors can try the Crema Gelata Ice Cream, sip on rich hot or chilled chocolate drinks all made with finest Lindt chocolate or handpick their own selection of favourites from the large Pick-and-Mix station.
With this new store, Auckland now joins the ranks of world-class chocolate destinations like Zürich, Paris, and Sydney, putting it firmly on the map for lovers of fine Swiss Chocolate indulgence. With a 179-year history behind them and rich Swiss heritage, Lindt now has more than 2,500 products in more than 120 countries worldwide. Lindt has pioneered the premium chocolate market and mastered the art of gourmet chocolate making, embodying the passion of its Swiss Master Chocolatiers.
Lindt Master Chocolatier Live
To mark the grand opening, Lindt Master Chocolatier Thomas Schnetzler, will be crafting fresh Lindor truffles on-site. Trained in Switzerland and now residing in Australia, Thomas brought the magic of Lindt to life as visitors watched him create the brand’s iconic milk chocolate truffles with their signature smooth-melting centres.
It’s a rare opportunity to witness the artistry of Swiss chocolate-making up close.
“There’s something truly special about creating chocolate that brings joy to people,” said Thomas. “For me, it’s not just about making sweets—it’s about crafting moments of happiness that people can savour and share. I’m excited to bring the unique experience to New Zealand with our new Lindt store in Auckland, and I can’t wait to connect with Kiwi chocolate lovers and share the passion we have for chocolate and for Lindt with them.”
A World of Lindt in New Zealand
Conveniently located at the central entrance of the Mānawa Bay Premium Outlet Centre, Lindt’s first New Zealand store will be open from 10 am to 7 pm, seven days a week.
Lindt Master Chocolatier Thomas trained in Switzerland as a Pâtissier and Confiseur at the renowned Confiserie Reber in a town called Schaffhausen, approximately 50km north of Zürich.
During his intense three-year training, Thomas learnt the craft of creating fine Pralinés and Truffles, chocolate specialities and chocolate pieces from Master Chocolatier Laurent Perriraz, under which he trained.
Thomas joined Lindt & Sprüngli over two decades ago and as one of only five Lindt Master Chocolatiers in the world, Thomas is passionately involved in working on new Lindt products and is an integral part of spreading the Lindt message.
His lifelong mission is exploring new heights of chocolate indulgence. Thomas consistently shares his insights into chocolate, how it is made and how to pair it with other culinary delights and educates people on what it is that makes Lindt chocolate so special.
