The small print
The Rainforest Alliance Certified chocolate producer wants you to take your inspiration from the Yowie characters - Rumble, Boof, Crag, Ditty, Nap and Squish - or any of the Baby Animals from its eighth series.
“We asked our fans what types of endangered animals they most wanted to collect and learn about and their answer was loud and clear, so this newest series features endangered baby animals from all over the globe,” said Cynthia Thayer, chief marketing officer of Yowie of the May launch.
“The cuteness factor is off the charts.”
Each Yowie is responsible for protecting a different habitat and the animals who live there:
- Rumble is a cousin to the red kangaroo, keeper of the plains and deserts.
- Crag is part crocodile, defender of the marshlands, swamp and backwater.
- Squish is part platypus, duck and beaver, protector of the waterways.
- Ditty is not quite a wombat, but still a determined and dramatic protector of the woodland and meadows habitat.
- Boof is part bandicoot and watches over the rainforests and mountains.
- Nap is ... just Nap, guardian of the treetops and the sky above.
Not a cake fan?
Any Yowie-inspired treat - from cookies to popsicles - will be accepted.
What is a Yowie?
Yowies are an iconic Australian chocolate, a best-seller in the 1990s and early 2000s, selling 65 million in a single year at the peak of their popularity.
The surprise-inside treat - a hollow chocolate shell encases a small toy - is made from sustainably sourced ingredients, without any GMOs, palm oil, gluten or nuts.
A ‘Yowie’ is the Aussie Outback equivalent of the Yankie Sasquatch or Bigfoot, and like the mythical creature, the company is passionate about bringing the plight of threatened fauna on the cusp of vanishing to light. Each Yowie features an endangered animal collectible figurine and a leaflet to help kids learn about the endangered animals, their habitats and all the reasons why it’s important to protect them.
Yowie was first produced by Cadbury, under licence from Kidcorp, in Australia in 1995. The chocs were discontinued in 2005, after negotiations between Cadbury and creators Bryce Courtenay and Geoff Pike to expand their distribution footprint collapsed. (Courtenay and Pike together authored six ‘Yowie Power’ books, each following a different Yowie character.) The company was acquired by Perth-based Yowie Group in 2012 and the surprise inside chocolates finally found their way onto US supermarket shelves in 2014. They also reemerged onto the Australia and New Zealand market in 2017.
How to enter
Participation is open to all baking enthusiasts, professional pastry chefs and creative souls who can work magic with fondant and buttercream.
Once your Yowie-inspired masterpiece has come to life - it may take a few stabs to hit that sweet spot - upload a pic or video of your creation on Yowie’s Facebook page.
Yowie recommends taking a gander at cake artist and Tik Tok star Tigga Mac’s Ditty cake and has also provided a range of cake stencils to get you on the road.
Important notes …
Yowie expert judges will evaluate each cake based on:
- Creativity and originality of the design
- Skill and technique demonstrated in the cake decoration
- Overall presentation, which includes colour scheme used, texture of the cake inside and visual appeak
Deadline for entries is 9 August 2023.
All entrants must be over the age of 13 years and residents of either the US or Australia.
… But let’s not beat about the bush
What you're really waiting to here about it the boodle, right?
Not only will your decorating talents be shared with thousands via Yowie’s social channels, but the winner will also receive a case of Yowie chocolates (72 units), the perfect addition for your next summer party or to share with friends and family.
In 2020, the confectionery company was instrumental in providing a sweet surprise to the lives of healthcare personnel during the pandemic, donating over 10,000 treats to children’s hospitals, shelters and medical centres across the US.
“Our company has always been about bringing a smile to children’s faces through our variety of products and we wanted to extend this to our frontline workers and their patients during this challenging time,” said Cynthia Thayer, CMO of Yowie Group.
“Enjoying a quick sweet treat or the ability to offer one to a young patient while working around the clock to save lives is something we knew we could provide in supporting our essential workers.”
Yowie surprise inside chocolates, Yowie Bites and Yowie Gummies are available in more than 30,000 retail outlets across the US (Walmart, Walgreens, 7Eleven, Albertson’s, Meijer, SuperValu, Giant Eagle, H-E-B, Food Lion, Casey’s, Circle K) and Australia (Woolworth’s, IGA, Big W, The Reject Shop, Kmart).
