Our History
We have been in Malaysia for over 40 years spreading our love for chocolate and inspiring chocolate lovers everywhere.
Dive into our rich history and you’ll discover choc-full of interesting facts and information about Cadbury.
32
1824
At 22 years of age John Cadbury opens his first grocer's shop next door to his father's drapery and silk business at 93 Bull Street, a fashionable part of Birmingham, England. John Cadbury sells hops, mustard and a new sideline – cocoa and drinking chocolate made with cocoa beans imported from South and Central America and the West Indies.
1831
1831
With growing sales of cocoa and drinking chocolate, Cadbury decides to produce hem on a larger scale. He rents an old warehouse in Crooked Lane, Birmingham to use as a factory.
1842
1842
Cadbury is now selling 16 kinds of drinking chocolate and 11 kinds of cocoa.
1847
1847
Cadbury rents a larger factory in the centre of Birmingham in Bridge Street. His brother Benjamin Cadbury joins him and the business becomes Cadbury Brothers of Birmingham.
1854
1854
Cadbury Brothers receive their first Royal Warrant on 4 February as "manufacturers of cocoa and chocolate to Queen Victoria."
1861
1861
John Cadbury is in poor health and hands the reigns of the business to his sons Richard and George Cadbury. The young men are just 25 and 21 years old respectively. They struggle to keep the business and work hard at promoting their goods to the trade. Their dedication, in addition to innovative new products and quality improvements, help the business survive and prosper.
1866
1866
The turning point for the young Cadbury brothers is a new processing technique and the resulting product: Cadbury Cocoa Essence. The new cocoa press, purchased from a Dutch manufacturer, squeezes out much of the cocoa butter from the beans so it is no longer necessary to put starches in the cocoa. The Cadbury brothers are the first British chocolate manufacturer to use this new process. The marketing of Cadbury Cocoa Essence as "Absolutely Pure, Therefore Best" helped sales increase dramatically.
1879
1879
Now employing 200 people, Richard and George Cadbury need a bigger factory. Instead of looking at another city location they chose a greenfield site four miles from the centre of Birmingham on what would be called Bournville Lane. Production begins on this "factory in a garden" in September.
1897
1897
Using left over cocoa butter from its drink powder, Cadbury produces its first milk chocolate bar for eating. However, the bar is dry and not sweet enough to be successful.
1899
1899
Richard Cadbury dies and the business becomes a private limited company: Cadbury Brothers Limited. George Cadbury becomes chairman of the new board. By this time the Bournville factory has more than 2,600 employees.
1921
1921
Cadbury becomes an international company when its first overseas factory opens in Tasmania. Other factories soon follow in Canada, Dublin and South Africa.
1955
1955
Cadbury launches its first television advertising on 22 September with an ad for drinking chocolate.
1964
1964
Cadbury acquires the London-based confections business of James Pascall, maker of chocolate éclairs.
1967
1967
The holding company British Cocoa and Chocolate Company changes its name to Cadbury Group Ltd.
1969
1969
Cadbury Group Ltd. merges with Schweppes Ltd. to create Cadbury Schweppes plc.
1970
1970
Cadbury launches in Malaysia.
1988
1988
Cadbury Schweppes acquires Chocolat Poulain, maker of the number 3 chocolate brand in France at that time. This is the first major acquisition in Cadbury's new strategy of growth through acquisition.
1989
1989
Cadbury Schweppes acquires both Trebor Group Ltd – maker of Trebor and Maynards sugar confections – and Bassett Foods plc – the maker of Bassetts licorice.
1995
1995
Cadbury Schweppes acquires Allan Candy, including the Sour Patch trademark in Canada.
1997
1997
Cadbury Schweppes acquires Jaret International, including the Sour Patch trademark, in the U.S.
2000
2000
Cadbury Schweppes acquires Hollywood, a leading French chewing gum brand.
2002
2002
Cadbury Schweppes acquires Dandy A.S. of Denmark, including Stimorol, Dirol and V6 gum brands.
2003
2003
Cadbury becomes the world's number one confectionery company (and number 2 in chewing gum) with the acquisition in March of U.S.-based Adams chewing gum business. This includes Halls, Dentyne, Trident brands and the Bubbas bubble gum range.
2008
2008
Cadbury and Schweppes de-merge effective 7 May, separating the confections and beverages businesses into two companies. The confections business is called Cadbury plc.
2010
2010
On February 2, Cadbury plc is acquired by U.S. based Kraft Foods Inc. in a £11.5 billion deal.