Page 18 - NewsandViews Summer 2024
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be correct - but what this company did for workers' welfare in the middle of the nineteenth century and
beyond should be held up as a model.
'The company and the family believed that a happy healthy workforce meant a happy healthy business. The
fact that the firm is still here today, almost 200 years later, speaks for itself.' Ms Wordsworth added: 'By
1879, the factory in Bridge Street was deemed unsuitable, and not just because of its small size.'
'The location of the factory also caused the brothers some discomfort. As committed Quakers and members
of the Society of Friends, they believed in providing a workplace in pleasant surroundings away from the
dirt, grime and overcrowding of what had now become a small city… The fact that the firm is still here today,
almost 200 years later, speaks for itself.'
'Enter the new premises at Bournville - a town that didn't even exist until the Cadburys moved their
chocolate factory there. 'And it wasn't just a factory - it became a way of life, with green fields, habitable
housing and good working conditions. 'Very good working conditions that any company today would be
proud of.'
Moulded choclate bars and Easter eggs were introduced in the 1870s and the beloved Cadbury Dairy Milk hit
our shelves for the first time in 1905. The chocolate, known for its creamy texture and rich flavour, quickly
soared to prominence becoming a staple in households across the UK and turned Cadbury into a global
player. But in 2010, a hostile takeover by American food company Kraft led to fears that the much loved
recipe for Dairy Milk would change. Although initially promising that British factories would be kept open,
Kraft closed the Somerdale factory in Bristol (formerly owned by Fry's) in 2011.
Following its successful takeover Kraft named the spin-off company
Mondelz International in 2012. In 2016, Mondelz came under fire for
not keeping its promise to continue making chocolate at Bournville.
Instead, it moved some of its manufacturing to Poland.
To mark it 200th anniversary, Cadbury has revived its iconic retro
Cadbury Dairy Milk packaging
1900: The Bournville Village Trust was created to create a community and
safeguard the area from other developers.
1905: Cadbury Dairy Milk was launched to compete against the leading brands of Swiss milk chocolate.
1906: A pension fund was launched for workers, with a capital gift from the company.
1915: Milk Tray was launched in this year: a stylish but no-frills box of chocolates for every day eating.
1918: Democratically elected 'works councils' for men and women were set up to discuss factory issues.
1919: Cadbury merged with J.S. Fry & Sons Limited in order for both companies to compete against Rowntree.
1921: Cadbury opened their first overseas factory in Hobart, Tasmania, followed by New Zealand in 1930.
1939: The Second World War begins, rationing is enforced and the making of chocolate and cocoa comes under Government
control.
1955: Cadbury move into TV advertising on the launch night of commercial television on September 22, 1955.
1969: Cadbury merged with Schweppes in order to give better value to the customer, boost its foods arm and gain the resources
to enter international markets. The new company is listed on the London Stock Exchange.
2003: Cadbury becomes the world's No 1 confectionery company after buying up various chewing gum brands, such as Trident
and Stride.
2008: Cadbury and Schweppes demerged, splitting its confectionery and drinks business.
2009: Cadbury Dairy Milk becomes Fairtrade.
2010: Cadbury is taken over by US owner Kraft in a controversial deal worth £11.5billion.
Inside the story of Cadbury's as the chocolate turns 200 years old PUBLISHED: 13:09, 4 March 2024 | UPDATED: 13:37, 4 March 2024 Copied
with Permission from Mail on-line Thanks to Rosemary Emmett for drawing our attention to this publication and to \Penny Estall for obtaining
permssion. Danny (Danny Howell) <dhowell@dmgmedia-licensing.com>
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