We’re celebrating 95 years of the company that brought you Edlyn Foods. Explore our history

From the best cordials in 1929
to the best food service products made today.

We're celebrating 95 years of Edlyn Foods

Play Video
Image of moving van
Image of indoors
Image of indoors
Image of people
Image of text

Cordial, candied fruit peels and an economic crunch

Famously, 1929 saw the arrival of the Great Depression, and with it a once-in-a-generation dip in employment and prosperity. Remarkably, manufacturing initiated and led Melbourne’s recovery, as local businesses like Eddington & Lynn stepped up. Government applied tariffs of the time made it cheaper to produce goods locally than import, and Melbourne's factories began to thrive in the mid 30s.

Image of alcohol

Eddington & Lynn continued to build on their success, operating under the name Edlyn—a nod to their shared vision. By 1932, they had moved to Richmond’s bustling Church Street, a manufacturing hub known for its iconic factories and hard-working community, producing everything from matches to shoes.

Image of bottle
Image of bottle
Image of bottle
Image of bottle
Image of bottle
Image of bottle
Image of bottle
Image of bottle
Image of bottle
Image of bottle
Image of bottle
Image of bottle
Image of bottle

From the ashes...

Edlyn faced its share of challenges in its early days. In 1932, disaster struck when a fire tore through the factory, destroying the manufacturing room, valuable machinery, and two tonnes of sugar. The cause remains a mystery, but the impact was devastating. Eddington & Lynn were forced to enter involuntary liquidation.

Image of advertisement
Image of shop

A new chapter begins

Of course, this wasn’t the end of the road. By 1937, William Eddington had reformed the company with a new business partner, and Edlyn was back in business, manufacturing cordials from a fresh new facility. Their timing couldn't have been better, as waves of Greek and Italian migration were about to set the stage for the café culture that would make Melbourne famous.

From a time when
there was a milk bar
on every corner

Image of clothing
Image of adult
Image of pub
Image of indoors
Image of silhouette

Edlyn’s rise as a cordial and topping manufacturer came at just the right time for a new Aussie icon – the milk bar. Modelled on American drugstore soda bars, it's Greek migrants who brought the concept to Australian shores in 1932. Milk bars quickly became the go-to spot for milkshakes, ice cream, and soda syrups, buzzing with fun, community, and a sense of leisure.

Image of food
Image of people
The Donelly family

We’ve always been

a family business.

Image of face

“Being consistent to our core values and our people
have been the secrets to our success. It’s humbling to see our team embracing those values and working so well together to support our customers every day.”

- Andrew Donelly, Chairman

Bruce Donelly, alongside his sons Andrew and Stuart, purchased Edlyn in 1988 from the Eddington Family. Over the decades that followed, they've grown the business into what it is today, nurturing relationships in the Australian food service trade while developing products that would go on to become best sellers in the industry.

Image of groupshot

Our achievements and longevity comes down to one thing: our incredible people.

There's a whole team
behind every product.

Image of adult

Our longevity comes down to one thing: our incredible people. Today, with production, warehouse, and distribution facilities across Victoria, South Australia, and Queensland, Edlyn’s success is all thanks to our dedicated and diverse team. Many of our staff have been with us for decades, shaping the values that make Edlyn more than just a business—it’s a tight-knit family.
We couldn’t do it without them. We’re a family, through and through.

4 brands. 170 products. 150 careers.
4 facilities. 11 countries. 95 years.