Cadbury, a member of the Mondelez International, and the parent company of Cadbury Nigeria, is 200 years in operations, this year (1824-2024).
Here’s the inspiring story of it’s journey, from a grocery shop, to a factory, to the Cadbury we know today.
This is the story of a father and two sons, and how their generosity inspired generations to come. They poured a ‘glass and a half’ into their Dairy Milk – and into their workers and communities, too.
At Cadbury, people always have been, and will be, at the heart of everything we do.
BULL STREET, WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
In 1824, John Cadbury opened a grocer’s shop in Bull Street, Birmingham. Amongst groceries, he sold cocoa and drinking chocolate – which he prepared himself using a mortar and pestle. And it became very popular.
So, in 1831, John bought a warehouse nearby and started manufacturing, with help from his sons George and Richard Cadbury. Soon after, in 1847, they moved to a larger factory in Bridge Street.
After becoming unwell, John retired from the business in 1861 and Richard and George took over – George in charge of production and Richard, sales. Business was tough, and George was heard saying, “If the business ever makes a profit of a thousand pounds a year, I’d retire a happy man”.
The turning point came when the brothers invested in a brand new way to process cocoa…
CADBURY BEGINS MAKING 100% PURE COCOA
Cocoa, at that time, was made with lots of cocoa butter. The butter had such a horrible taste that starches were added, to disguise its taste and texture.
Then George Cadbury heard about an innovative cocoa press being used by Dutch manufacturer van Houten. The press squeezed out so much cocoa butter from the beans, they didn’t need to add any starches.
By using the cocoa press, George and Richard found they were able to make their cocoa 100% pure. It’s hard to believe, but other chocolate makers were bulking out their cocoa with animal fat, red lead and brick dust.
Instead, the brothers concentrated on making totally unadulterated cocoa, and in 1866, they launched Cadbury Cocoa Essence, advertised as ’Absolutely Pure, Therefore Best’.
GEORGE HAS A VISION FOR A NEW KIND OF FACTORY, AND BOURNVILLE IS BORN
• In 1878 the brothers started looking for a site to build a new factory. Not just any old site – George had other ideas. “Why should an industrial area be squalid and depressing?”
They found it, just south of Birmingham – 14.5 acres, with a meadow, cottage and a stream called the Bourn. By adding ‘ville’ (French for ‘town’), they named the site Bournville.
• Bournville had good transport links, and room to expand. George wanted to build a place full of green spaces, where Cadbury workers could leave the crowded, dirty city behind and enjoy a better quality of life.
He began to draw up plans for the factory with Birmingham architect George H. Gadd. In January 1879 building began on the factory, along with the first 16 houses for employees. There was more to come…
THE GROWTH OF BOURNVILLE,’THE FACTORY IN A GARDEN’
As George Cadbury said, ‘If the country is a good place to live in, why not to work in?’ And so, Bournville became a place where employees could live, work and play.
Children enjoyed a new playground, country outings and summer camps. Whilst the men played football, hockey and cricket.
In 1902, 30% of Cadbury’s capital expenditure was spent on workers’ welfare. Tennis and squash courts were built, along with a bowling green and swimming pools with heated changing rooms.
Workers’ facilities like these were unheard of in Victorian times – as were holidays. Cadbury became one of the first firms to introduce a Saturday half-day off work. “People told us it would mean ruin,” said George. “I do not think any men could have been happier”.
CADBURY’S GROWTH
• Since 1824, Cadbury had gone from a Birmingham-based chocolate shop to a national favourite. In this time, the Cadbury family has partnered with other family-run companies like Fry and Sons and Trebor Bassett to provide the best value for money, from corner shops to supermarket aisles.
• Another exciting opportunity came along in 2010, when we found a new home alongside the Kraft Foods family. Kraft created a new division in 2012, called ‘Mondelez International’ which we are still proud to be a part of today.
We’ve come a long way in 200 years but one thing that will never change is the generous spirit we bring to everything we do.
▪︎Source: Company