About Cadbury
Cadbury is one of the most beloved and iconic chocolate brands in British history, founded in Birmingham in 1824 by John Cadbury, a Quaker who began selling tea, coffee, and drinking chocolate from his Bull Street shop. Now owned by Mondelēz International since 2010, Cadbury has grown from a small family business into the second-largest confectionery brand in the world, after Mars. The company celebrated its bicentenary in 2024, marking 200 years of chocolate-making excellence. The brand's British heritage runs deep. In 1878, John Cadbury's sons Richard and George moved the factory from Birmingham's city centre to the countryside, founding the famous Bournville factory and its accompanying model village. The brothers chose a site four miles from Birmingham with fresh air, good transport links, and clean water from the River Bourn. In 1893, George Cadbury purchased 120 acres of land near the factory to create Bournville village, designed to provide workers with healthier living conditions than the cramped city housing of the era. Today, Bournville remains the heart of Cadbury's UK operations, housing Mondelēz's Global Centre of Excellence for chocolate research and development. Cadbury's product range is extensive and includes some of the most recognisable chocolate bars in the UK. The flagship Cadbury Dairy Milk, introduced in 1905 by George Cadbury Jr, revolutionised British chocolate-making with its higher proportion of milk than rival products. Made with a glass and a half of fresh milk from the British Isles and Ireland, Dairy Milk had become the company's best-selling product by 1914 and accounted for 60% of the UK milk chocolate market by 1936. The Bournville factory produces over 300 million Dairy Milk bars each year. Beyond Dairy Milk, Cadbury's portfolio includes beloved chocolate bars such as Crunchie with its distinctive honeycomb centre, the bubbly Wispa, the swirled Twirl, the layered Double Decker, caramel-filled Boost, and the nostalgic Curly Wurly. The brand also produces Buttons, a favourite with children, Flake with its unique crumbly texture, and the boxed selection Milk Tray, which has been a popular gift since 1915. Heroes twist-wrapped chocolates offer a mix of Cadbury favourites in shareable format. Seasonal products are a significant part of Cadbury's success. The Creme Egg, introduced in its current form in 1971, is the best-selling confectionery item in the UK between New Year and Easter, with annual sales exceeding 200 million eggs. The Bournville factory produces approximately 1.5 million Creme Eggs daily during the season and around 300 million per year overall. Mini Eggs are another Easter favourite, while Roses remain a popular Christmas selection box. The brand also produces approximately 47 million Easter eggs annually from the Birmingham site. For dietary requirements, many Cadbury products are suitable for vegetarians and gluten-free diets. Gluten-free options include Crunchie, Twirl, Wispa, Flake, Fudge, Curly Wurly, Turkish Delight, Chomp, and Buttons. The Cadbury Bournville dark chocolate range, including Bournville Old Jamaica and Bournville Orange, is also gluten-free. These products appear in the Coeliac UK Food and Drink directory as foods made without gluten-containing ingredients. Cadbury has expanded into the vegan market with the Cadbury Plant Bar, launched in 2022. Developed over two years, this plant-based chocolate uses almond paste for smoothness and creaminess, available in Smooth Chocolate and Salted Caramel flavours. While labelled vegan-friendly, it may contain milk due to cross-contamination during manufacturing. Regarding halal status, Cadbury states that most of their products are suitable for those following a halal diet as they contain only milk and eggs as animal products, though products are not halal certified in the UK. Some assortments like Roses may contain alcohol, so checking packaging is recommended. Standard Cadbury Dairy Milk contains milk, sugar, cocoa butter, cocoa mass, and vegetable fats, with allergen information stating it contains milk and may contain nuts and wheat. Some products also contain soya. Nutritionally, Cadbury Dairy Milk provides 534 calories per 100g, with milk solids minimum 20% and cocoa solids minimum 20%. When comparing Cadbury to competitors, UK chocolate generally contains more milk products and less wax than American counterparts, giving a richer, creamier taste. To be classified as milk chocolate in the UK, products must contain at least 25% cocoa solids compared to just 10% in the US. Cadbury remains a British favourite, though the brand lost its Royal Warrant in December 2024 after 170 years of association with the monarchy. Prices for Cadbury products vary across UK supermarkets. A 110g Dairy Milk bar typically ranges from £1.84 to £3.53 depending on the retailer, with loyalty card offers from Sainsbury's Nectar and Tesco Clubcard often providing significant discounts. Multipacks offer better value, and seasonal promotions frequently reduce prices on selection boxes and Easter eggs. The Bournville factory continues as a major manufacturing hub, employing around 1,300 people with approximately 4,000 Mondelēz colleagues across nine UK sites. In 2021, Mondelēz announced a £15 million investment to boost capacity by 12,000 tonnes annually, resulting in 125 million more Dairy Milk bars produced each year. Cadbury World, the visitor attraction opened in 1990, welcomes over 500,000 visitors annually, making it one of Birmingham's most popular attractions.