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From its humble beginnings as a small grocer’s shop in Birmingham, Cadbury has been delighting the nation’s taste buds for two centuries.
Now as Cadbury officially celebrates its 200th birthday today, MailOnline has taken a look back in time at Britain’s favourite chocolate brand.
Cadbury was founded by the nation’s very own Willy Wonka, John Cadbury, in 1824 on Bull Street in Birmingham.
Amongst the array of goods sold at the grocer’s shop, John introduced hand-made drinking chocolate which laid the foundation for the brand today.
John saw cocoa as a healthy alternative to alcohol – something as a Quaker, he was keen to encourage.
The man behind the chocolate: John Cadbury who founded Cadbury’s in 1824 is pictured in a black and white portrait
John saw cocoa as a healthy alternative to alcohol – something as a Quaker, he was keen to encourage
John started selling different types of cocoa and moved to a factory on Bridge Street, Birmingham in 1831
He was originally a tea dealer and coffee roaster but he also sold hops, mustard, patent cocoa and cocoa nibs.
To entice wealthy customers in, the shop was the first in Birmingham to have plate glass windows with mahogany frames which John is said to have cleaned every day.
The shop had attractive displays including Chinese vases and oriental figurines that contained black and green tea.
With a commitment to quality and innovation, Cadbury rapidly expanded, captivating Britons with its irresistible treats.
John started selling different types of cocoa and moved to a factory on Bridge Street, Birmingham in 1831.
By 1864 the company was being run by John’s sons, Richard and George, and the brothers were keen to distinguish themselves from other cocoa and chocolate manufacturers.
A purer, more luxurious drinking chocolate called Cocoa Essence was introduced by the pair in 1866.
This product used a new process which pressed cocoa butter from the cocoa beans, and it is this that was the forerunner of the cocoa known and loved today.
By 1864 the company was being run by John’s sons, Richard and George, and the brothers were keen to distinguish themselves from other cocoa and chocolate manufacturers
A purer, more luxurious drinking chocolate called Cocoa Essence was introduced by the pair in 1866
This product used a new process which pressed cocoa butter from the cocoa beans, and it is this that was the forerunner of the cocoa known and loved today
The excess cocoa butter from the press could then be used to make an early form of eating chocolate and the company went on to launch its first chocolate assortment boxes.
Richard and George soon got sick of Birmingham slums and in 1878 they moved to a rural site four miles out of the city in a place called Bournville.
Taking the name of the model village Bournville grew into a haven for staff where they could live, work and play.
Alongside semi-detached cottages with gardens for the workers, there was a field next to the factory where men and could play cricket and football; a garden and playground for the girls; and proper welfare provisions.
Over the years, sports facilities grew to include hockey, tennis, squash and bowling facilities.
Eventually, swimming pools were built with everyone in Bournville taught how to swim.
Staff days out were common, and for workers living outside of Bournville, Cadbury’s negotiated reduced train fares with the local railway company. Education was made available for everyone and the company actively encouraged vocations outside of their business interest.
But a place of virtuous living, no pub was allowed in Bournville, a rule which still applies today.
Author of A History of Cadbury, Diane Wordsworth said: The Cadburys as a family did much for social welfare and reform.
‘Some may think the business was too patriarchal – and in today’s climate they would probably 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.
Taking the name of the model village Bournville grew into a haven for staff where they could live, work and play
Alongside semi-detached cottages with gardens for the workers, there was a field next to the factory where men and could play cricket and football
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
‘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.
With the advent of colour television in the mid-20th century, Cadbury found itself at the vanguard of the advertising revolution.
The chocolate company came up with a series of iconic promotions for its products with some of the most rememberable being ‘A finger of Fudge is just enough to give your kids a treat’ and ‘everyone’s a Fruit and Nut case’.
Cadbury went viral in 2007 with a Dairy Milk advert that showed a life-like gorilla drumming to Phil Collins’ ‘In The Air Tonight’.
In 2015 the advert was voted the best British ad in 60 years.
With the advent of colour television in the mid-20th century, Cadbury found itself at the vanguard of the advertising revolution
A selection of the different advertising campaigns made by Cadbury over 200 years
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.
But following a £75 million investment in the Birmingham plant, it looks as though they have made a new promise to return Cadbury’s Dairy Milk to the UK.
In 2018, Cadbury Dairy Milk was crowned as Britain’s favourite chocolate bar, proving the confectionery’s lasting appeal.
Cadbury has worked with charities, making a difference in local communities and economies over the course of its 200 year history.
The chocolate brand has teamed up with The Princes Trust and also started its own Cadbury Foundation in 1935 to invest in areas across the UK and Ireland.
In 2010, a hostile takeover by American food company Kraft led to fears that the much loved recipe for Dairy Milk would change
Following its successful takeover Kraft named the spin-off company Mondelz International in 2012
In 2018, Cadbury Dairy Milk was crowned as Britain’s favourite chocolate bar, proving the confectionery’s lasting appeal
Cadbury has worked with charities, making a difference in local communities and economies over the course of its 200 year history
The chocolate brand has teamed up with The Princes Trust and also started its own Cadbury Foundation in 1935 to invest in areas across the UK and Ireland
To mark it 200th anniversary, Cadbury has revived its iconic retro Cadbury Dairy Milk packaging
Cadbury brand manager, Bryony Tate said: ‘We’re really looking forward to celebrating 200 years of Cadbury belonging to our nation this year.
‘The British public has played such an important role in our history and we’re proud to celebrate being yours.
‘From the thrill of a little treat shared with a loved one, to special occasions and even getting the entire nation excited for milestone cultural events, like Royal Coronations and the London Olympics, Cadbury has belonged to our nation for 200 years.
‘But really, it’s thanks to the whole British public that Cadbury is still here today.
‘We’re planning for an exciting year ahead and lots more announcements to come so stay tuned!’
The iconic designs won’t just be on the outside either, eagle-eyed customers will be able to spot artwork commemorating memorable events in Cadbury’s history.
To mark it 200th anniversary, Cadbury has revived its iconic retro Cadbury Dairy Milk packaging.
There are seven designs, available on limited edition 180g bars, and span from 1915 to the present day.
The chcolate brand has also recreated their first ever store out of chocolate to celebrate their birthday.
The edible masterpiece recreates the first shop John Cadbury opened at 93 Bull Street in Birmingham in 1824.
Pictured: Cadbury chocolatiers Donna Oluban and Dawn Jenks seen perfecting their recreation of the first store
Cadbury’s has recreated their first ever store out of chocolate to celebrate the company’s 200th anniversary
The edible masterpiece recreates the first shop John Cadbury opened at 93 Bull Street in Birmingham
The magnificent chocolate shop took the talented chocolatiers five days to mak
At 85cm tall, weighing 30kg – which is the equivalent of 667 standard Cadbury Dairy Milk bars – the magnificent chocolate shop took the talented chocolatiers five days to make.
Every element of the creation was handmade – from the street cobbles to cobble to the building’s bricks.
The masterpiece was created by chocolatiers Donna Oluban and Dawn Jenks, who worked with milk and white chocolate to delicately handcraft every edible element.
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This post first appeared on Daily mail