Cadbury's

CADBURY - THE ‘GLASS AND A HALF' COMPANY

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’.