Some years ago, I had a business relationship with the Confectionary Warehouse. That relationship…read moreinvolved talking directly with Tom. Yes, he's a real a person and the owner of this business. At some point in this business relationship, I advised Tom I lived in the area and was a customer, too. At which point Tom asked me if I had children and if I had ever brought the children in. I'm fairly certain my response to the kindly Tom was "Are you mad?". His reponse was, of course, "Bring the kids in. Kids love it here." You don't say. But, you try wrangling a 9 and 11 year old in a WAREHOUSE OF LOLLIES. Mind you, I've also had trouble dragging GROWN people out of this wonderland of sugar, too. Tom's is the best for bulk purchases and unusual lines. For one-off, standard volume purchases, you're often better off at Woolies or Coles. But, if you need 5kgs of gummi bears, a case of Aero or are desperate for Dr Pepper Jelly Belly Jelly Beans, then this is your place. Tom's is my go-to when I need lollies from home (USA). For the most part, their selection of American candy & assorted foodstuffs is extensive. Same goes for NZ treats. (Read: hellloooooo perky nanas!) Because they are a warehouse, they often will package the name brand choccies and other lollies in clear cellophane & sell it by weight, which works out a bit cheaper than buying the branded packaged goods.

You know, I wasn't as impressed with this place as Lisa N was (sorry Lisa!). I went after last…read moreEaster to take advantage of my favourite chocolate time of year - the 'After Easter Egg Sale'. Yes, this is not an official thing, however for chocolate addicts like me it's the equivalent of the Boxing Day sales. The day after Easter Monday, all the shops open and all Easter eggs are magically 50 - 70% off. C'est incredible! I was expecting some SERIOUS discounts from Tom's Confectionary Warehouse - I mean, it's a warehouse! Full of chocolate! After Easter! They should have been paying me to buy stuff there. Unfortunately I just didn't think it stacked up. The chocolate looked a bit compound (although they did also have a good mix of European chocolate which is heavenly) and nothing was reduced properly. Plus the standard ranges didn't seem that far outside what I would pay in a supermarket and quality didn't look up to par. Unless it's Easter eggs I can't really eat that much candy at a sitting so I'd rather go to a good import candy store or even my local supermarket than make the trek to Hendra again.

My achilles heel. My achilles tendon. My soft gooey centre with chocolate all around. This is…read morethe creme de la creme of candy shops. In bulk - where it's definetely at people! If you're having a party, getting married need some souvenir bon bonierre's this is where you should investigate when you start. They have walls lined with every candy and wizz fizz you can imagine. The costs are bulk, so cheaper than anywhere else as well, schools come here to load up on supplies for kids for sport days, fundraisers and whatnot. Best of all, it's all good to the public too. With a wide selection of your American soft drinks like A&W Root Beer, Fanta's, Dr Peppers and all the good stuff you will not be disappointed. Reece's pieces? Easy peasy. Jolly ranchers if they mean anything to you locals... get educated on your jelly belly's. Fill up your own wizz fizz concoction of different flavours and colours of all things sugar and nice. They have also just expanded the store to include party supplies, hats, masks, those things you hit with a stick and have lollies fall out of... halloween broom sticks, decorations for princess and pirate parties... it's crazy! I love it. It's crazy love. It's crazy love on a sugar high. Did I mention they had face paint for kids too?

From the owner: Huge range of USA-UK-NZ sweets, chocs, crisps, soda, wedding chocs, sugar almonds, licorice, gift…read morebaskets & much more.

wow!! amazing customer service, staff were so friendly, it's a vibe. there are so many things to…read morechoose from. honestly I was expecting my total to be way higher after visiting similar candy sores. we can't wait to go back!

Can remember coming here as a kid for lollies with my parents. A bit pricy, but the range is…read moreawesome; especially the jelly belly range along the back wall.

Witchety grubs, jaffas, gobstoppers, jubes, jelly babies, musk sticks...oh how this shop brought…read moreback memories of the days before cellulite and muffin top. Guilt stopped me from going crazy in here and scooping up bag after bag full of childhood favourites. Just seeing the big glass bottle full of Jaffas (which I've always hated) reminded me of the last time I ate them - when I was a teenager a boy I fancied took me to the movies and we ended up getting into a Jaffa fight. Ah, the romance... But adult restraint took over and I just left with an old fave of mine and my mother's - a bag of musk sticks. Let the cavities begin...

Mrs Flannery's is worth travelling some distance for if you're after organic, completely natural…read morefoods or anything gluten, dairy, etc free. They have a huge range of stock, including fresh organic fruit and vegetables, cold goods and supplements in a surprisingly large store. The assistants are friendly and knowledgeable and willing to answer any questions you might have. I go in for their supply of 'Lentilicious,' one of the many locally produced products for healthy living they have in store and their organic fair trade coffee. Even if you aren't sold on organic foods, its a great place to find healthy, nutritious food stuff.

As far as health and organic food stores go, Mrs Flannery's in Taringa is one of the best ones I…read morehave been to. This mainly due to the size allowing them to really fill up the place with a wide variety of goods. I am used to health food stores being the size of boutiques, not much larger than and average sized bedroom kind of thing. Surprisingly, 'Mrs Flannery's' is the size of a small IGA or your local food store. It has a few aisles like the ones you find at the Supermarket! Here you will find, organic cereal, wide range of nuts and whole grains as well as natural household and beauty products. I am fond of their peanut butter which is literally grounded peanuts with no additives, preservatives and flavourings. Of course shopping here is not as cheap as the local supermarket but you feel so good about yourself for being so healthy after shopping here. I obviously would not do my entire groceries here as that would burn a hole in my pocket though. 'Mrs Flannery's' is a must for anyone into natural health and organic foods who lives around the 'Taringa' area. You will not be disappointed by the range this place has to offer.

I wish I had the gumption to boycott Chocolate Boulevard. Their prices are steep, they package…read morelollies they would buy by the bucket into large packs so you can only buy heaps and thus pay even more (and this also sucks for calorie counters). But let's face it, price and quantity are never going to manage to deter me from my getting my sweet fix. What comes close, though, is the service. The staff here can be really, really rude. It always seems so strange, too; aren't candy store owners meant to be jolly or cheerful or something? Have I watched too much Willy Wonka? Who can make the sunrise, sprinkle it with dew, cover it with chocolate and a miracle or two? The candy man can! But not here. The staff tend to watch you like hawks, sigh with the hardship of having to serve you, and rarely offer any attempt at pleasantries. Why, then, you may wonder do I still go to Chocolate Boulevard (a lot)? Because they have a really awesome selection of imported lollies (especially the best kind: American), as well as seasonal treats, a good range of pick'n'mix jelly bellies, and shelf upon shelf of lollies that you don't see anywhere else. Being a slave to my addiction, I'll brave the wrath of the staff and the inflated prices and consider them merely part of ongoing my quest for lollies. If you know what you're in for and consider it worth braving prices and attitude for lollies (like I do) then you'll be fine, just don't expect a smile. Or oompa loompas, because apparently they're not real.

My great love of sugar always manages to win over my…read moreperpetual fear of early onset diabetes. ...And what better way to go down swinging than with the aptly named Chocolate Boulevard. Now in my opinion the word Boulevard is misleading and should really be changed to "A small room filled with confectionary". But I can concede that it is not that catchy (and would be hard to fit on the signpost.) ....I digress. Everything is available at this small sweet station, from delicious chilli chocolate to candies from around the world (The american section is pretty boss.) And while the service can run a bit hot and cold at times, when stuck in the city (and with a hankering for a peppermint crisp) there is no better place to fulfill those sweet tooth cravings.

Outstanding selection of NZ and International confectionery. However you can get Moros cheaper at…read moreColes, although I suspect they source them from Dunedin here. The licorice range and little gobstoppers are a dentists accountants dream. Although a little pricey on some lines you still wouldn't go wrong hitting here before the movies across the food court.

Can you imagine the joy of being able to step insie a time machine and travelling back to your…read morefavourite childhood sweet shop. Well, you don't have too! Sweetheart Confectionery at Stafford City stocks all of your childhood favourites and more! Choo-choo bars, traditional toffees, licorice allsorts, and chocolate frogs galore! Although the store is small they manage to fit sooo much in. Sweethearts also stock international delights like Reece's Peanut Butter Cups, L&P, Candy Corn and Cherry Cola just to name a few - what's more is that they are conveniently located next to Stafford Cinemas so you can stock up on your favourite sweeties and enjoy while you watch a groovy movie!

When I first lay eyes on the UQ Lolly shop, I felt like I was in a sugary heaven. The wall was…read morelined with self serve lolly dispensers filled with everything from jelly beans, to those banana lollies, chocolate sprinkles, and honeycomb. Venturing further, I found a section dedicated to American Candy. Spotting the Reese's Buttercups I could no longer resist and had to empty my wallet (even thought the import price makes them a little on the expensive side). They also stock Australian favourites like sherbet, Eucalyptus drops, Tim Tams and the like. But my oh my, it was the American Candy that had me hooked and returning to the Lolly Shop at the detriment of both my wallet and my wasteline. The shop also stocks a few basics, like cup noodles, chips, etc. and a range of drinks and ice-cream. As well as this they stock a few basic student needs like tissues, sunscreen, bug spray, panadol and the like. Situated in the Student Union Complex at the University of QLD St Lucia Campus, the Lolly shop is a favourite of many. They also have these amazing chocolate covered coffee beans. They uses to be in the same area as the rest of the self serve but after being ravaged by crazed studying students, you need to ask for them from behind the counter. There will be a line up here during busy periods (you can see the peaks between lectures as students stock up) but the lines move pretty quickly. As I have been writing this I have finished off two Reese's and think I will need to return to the Lolly Shop again in the near future.

Curse the Lolly Shop! It's a very intelligently placed sugar den that lures me in EVERY time. On…read morethe way to the ferry, on the way from the ferry, on the way to lectures, on the way from lectures... Lollies serve several life purposes. You just can't go past getting a bag of clinkers and sitting at the bustop eating them until you hit a yellow or green one (why are they mostly always pink?). It's an excellent time taker-upperer. The bag o' lollies is also a great tool for making friends in lectures. "Hey, you want a chocolate coated strawberry?" (the ones who say "no", obviously have poor taste and aren't worthy of being your mate anyhow). They charge you per the kilogram for the sugar treats. You can usually walk out with a decent sugar pile for around $2-$5. You can also get handy things like cookies, gum, mi gorengs and other useful student supplies there. My only complaint might be that the staff are often super surly. They don't say hello or use their manners. Maybe they're suffering from a constant sugar crash. Who knows. All I know is that you have to suffer their service to get to the lollies, and we all know that nothing, NOTHING should stand in the way of a student and their brain food.