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.

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.

PICK AND MIX HEAVEN! This little purveyor of sugary dreams is the best place in Brisbane to grab a…read morebag in one hand, a scoop in the other, and party like it's 1999 and you're twelve years old again. Nowhere else have I ever seen the sheer variety of lollies that forms the walls of Candy Time. Container upon container of different sweets literally form the walls of this shop in one aisle of Chermside Shopping Centre. I've been a lolly-fiend for twenty-four years and even I find things I've never tried amongst the perspex boxes. As well as their scrumdiddlyumptious selection of pick'n'mix, Candy Time stocks loads of US and UK candy and come Easter, Halloween, or Christmas will have all your seasonal junk food needs (I'm looking at you candy corn). Like all pick'n'mix, the bags at Candy Time have a sneaky habit of not looking super full until you do them up and put them on the scale. It's then that you realise that not only are you an epic pig, but you're a broke epic pig because lollies by weight aren't exactly a solid investment. But money be damned, they even sell fudge and pucker powder. And pop-tarts. And Dr. Pepper. And cherry Coke. And giant lollipops in the shape of eyeballs. Oh god.

Horrible customer service! We were served by a woman whom my mum asked about some things about the…read morecandies and she was so rude. She put her her hands up in front of my face and said "I'm talking to your daughter" when all I did was repeat my mothers question since she didn't answer at the first place. So disgusted, never going back there. Every time I walk past I notice how inattentive they are towards the customers.