Who Owns Cadbury?

Cadbury was founded in 1824 by John Cadbury, who opened a shop in Birmingham, England, selling tea, coffee, and drinking chocolate. The business grew steadily, and John's sons Richard and George took over in 1861, transforming it into a major chocolate manufacturer. This founding vision demonstrated exceptional entrepreneurial insight and the ability to create a distinctive brand that would become synonymous with British chocolate culture for generations.

In 1879, the Cadbury brothers built the Bournville factory and model village near Birmingham, which became one of the most famous chocolate manufacturing sites in the world. The company introduced Dairy Milk chocolate in 1905, which became its flagship product. This pioneering approach to industrial development and social welfare demonstrated the Cadbury family's commitment to both business excellence and employee well-being, creating a model for industrial development that would influence generations of British manufacturers.

Throughout the 20th century, Cadbury expanded globally through acquisitions and organic growth, becoming one of the world's largest confectionery companies. The company merged with Schweppes in 1969 and later demerged its beverages division in 2008. This period of expansion demonstrated Cadbury's ability to adapt to changing market conditions while maintaining its distinctive brand identity and commitment to quality chocolate production.

In January 2010, Kraft Foods launched a successful hostile takeover bid for Cadbury plc, valued at approximately $19.5 billion. The acquisition was completed in February 2010 despite opposition from Cadbury's board, employees, and the British public. This controversial acquisition marked the end of Cadbury's independence as a British company while demonstrating the continued value of the brand in the global confectionery market. The takeover generated significant public debate about foreign ownership of British heritage brands and the preservation of British manufacturing capabilities.