There is a religious belief behind this success story

How did a british entrepreneur created one of the most successful chocolate brands? Let's know the amazing 200 year old history and success story of the Cadbury Chocolates brand and their founder John Cadbury.

John Cadbury was born in a Quaker family in Birmingham on August 12th, 1801. His parents were Richard Tapped Cadbury and Elizabeth Head. The family had moved to Birmingham from western England. He was the fifth child; there were three boys and two girls in the family. 

He got his earlier education at Crosfields Quaker School. Because as a Quaker in the early 19th century, he was not allowed to enter a university. Quakers are historically and typically pacifist, a military career was also out of the question. So, like many other Quakers of the time, he turned his energies toward business. 

What are Quakers and what do they believe?

Quakers are members of a group with Christian roots that began in England in the 1650s.Quakers believe that there is something of God in everybody and that each human being is of unique worth. This is why Quakers value all people equally, and oppose anything that may harm or threaten them. 

They emphasise direct experience of God rather than ritual and ceremony. They believe that priests and rituals are an unnecessary obstruction between the believer and God.

Quakers integrate religion and everyday life. They believe God can be found in the middle of everyday life and human relationships, as much as during a meeting for worship.

Founding Cadbury

After bring apprenticed to a tea dealer in Leeds in 1818, he opened a grocer's shop at Birmingham in 1824. Its best known products include Dairy Milk chocolate. In 1824, John Cadbury began to sell tea, coffee and drinking chocolate from his premises in Birmingham. Cadbury developed the business with his brother Benjamin, and later his sons Richard and George.

His shop was actually innovative in Birmingham. It had a very unique glass window. Back in the day, glass windows were a pretty big deal. In the shop, he had a Chinese clerk who always wore oriental clothing. There was always a very pleasing aroma and a pleasant atmosphere in the store. However, people loved the atmosphere and the hot drinks offered by the business. 

In the manufacturing process, his interest in cocoa grew, so he decided to work on it and decided to open a factory. He actually started working on the factory idea in 1831. He did continuous experiments on different types of cocoa. He was already offering his customers six different types of drinking chocolate and eleven cocoas in 1842. In 1847, his business was expanded again, and he was moved to a larger factory. 

Cadbury’s competitors back in the day were Fry’s of Bristol. The first “chocolate for eating” was invented in 1847 by Joseph Fry. Cadbury introduced the brand of the chocolate bar in 1849. After the First World War ended, Cadbury started mass production of its popular products. In 1918, the company opened its first international factory in Hobart, Tasmania.

This is very important: The company not only cared for profit but also wanted to create a better life for its employees. 

An entrepreneur committed to his beliefs

John was strictly against alcohol and wanted to replace it with tea, coffee, and chocolate. He believed that alcohol was the main factor that kept people in poverty. That is why he wanted to start the mass production of chocolate. That way, he could offer an alternative to alcohol. He was like his father in that matter. He was strongly against social injustice. He had this kind spirit from his family, who held anti-slavery campaigns. He even held campaigns that were against animal cruelty and child exploitation.

How the Product was Promoted

They made their first advertisement with the following slogan: “Absolutely pure, therefore best“. The slogan became the main character of thirty-year advertising campaigns. The first mass-produced box of chocolates manufactured by the Cadbury company was sold in 1868. In 1897, Cadbury’s milk chocolate bar was launched. It was made from cocoa, cocoa butter, sugar, dark chocolate, and milk powder. In 1905, Cadbury Dairy Milk was launched. The chocolate candy bar brought Cadbury huge success, and it soon became a megabrand.

Who currently owns Cadbury?

In 1969, Cadbury merged with drinks company Schweppes to form Cadbury Schweppes. The owner of Schweppes became the Chairman, and Adrian Cadbury became Deputy Chairman and Managing Director. 

In 1978, the company gave Peter Paul, the third-largest chocolate manufacturer in the United States, 10% of its shares in exchange for $58 million. Cadbury Schweppes now sells its products worldwide.

In the 1980s, Schweppes allied with Coca-Cola to make Coca-Cola Schweppes. As a result, Cadbury Schweppes became the world’s third-largest soft drinks manufacturer. In 1988, the company sold its confectionery business to Hershey’s for $284.5 million cash.

In March 2007, Cadbury decided to split its business into two separate entities. One focuses on the main chocolate business and the other on the US drinks business. 

The Demerger took place on 2 May 2008, the drinks business became Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, and the Cadbury Schweppes became Cadbury.

Cadbury became part of Kraft Foods on the 2nd February 2010. Cadbury is a British Multinational Confectionery Company currently owned by Mondelez International. 

For more details:

https://www.cadbury.co.uk/our-story