
Cadbury is a British multinational confectionery company owned by Mondelēz International. Cadbury has a long history in Australia, dating back to 1853 when its products were first imported to the country. In 1919, Cadbury decided to expand internationally and built its first factory outside the United Kingdom in Tasmania, Australia. Over the years, Cadbury has had a significant presence in Australia, with a factory in Hobart and a popular visitor's centre. However, in recent years, there have been closures and reductions in the workforce at the Australian Cadbury factory. While Cadbury chocolates are enjoyed worldwide, including in Australia, the company is not Australian-owned.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Current owner | Mondelēz International |
| Headquarters | Uxbridge, London |
| Year founded | 1824 |
| Founder | John Cadbury |
| Year Cadbury arrived in Australia | 1853 |
| Year Cadbury was acquired by Schweppes | 1969 |
| Year Cadbury acquired MacRobertson's | 1967 |
| Year Cadbury's Claremont factory ceased running full tours | 2008 |
| Year Cadbury's visitor's centre was closed | 2017 |
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What You'll Learn
- Cadbury is a British company, owned by Mondelez International
- Cadbury's first overseas market was Australia, in 1881
- Cadbury's Claremont factory in Tasmania was its first outside the UK
- Cadbury acquired Australian confectioner MacRobertson's in 1967
- Mondelez began closing Cadbury factories in several developed countries in 2015

Cadbury is a British company, owned by Mondelez International
Cadbury is a British multinational confectionery company that is currently owned by Mondelez International. Cadbury was started in 1824 by John Cadbury, who began selling tea, coffee, and drinking chocolate from his premises in Birmingham. He later developed the business with his brother Benjamin and his sons Richard and George.
George Cadbury bought 120 acres of land near the works in 1893 and planned to build a model village to improve the living conditions of his employees. By 1900, the Bournville estate, as it came to be known, included 314 cottages and houses set on 330 acres of land. In 1899, Cadbury became a private limited company, with Richard and George owning 100% of the ordinary shares.
Over the years, Cadbury expanded its business and acquired other companies, including J. S. Fry & Sons in 1919 and drinks company Schweppes in 1969, forming Cadbury Schweppes. In 1967, Cadbury acquired an Australian confectioner, MacRobertson's, and built a 60% market share in Australia. In 1978, the company acquired Peter Paul, the third-largest chocolate manufacturer in the United States, giving it a 10% share of the world's largest confectionery market.
In 2007, Cadbury Schweppes announced plans to split its business into two separate entities: one focusing on chocolate and confectionery, and the other on its US drinks business. The demerger took effect in 2008, with the drinks business becoming Dr Pepper Snapple Group. In December 2008, Cadbury sold its Australian beverage unit to Asahi Breweries.
In recent years, Mondelez International, the current owner of Cadbury, has implemented cost-cutting measures, including closing Cadbury factories in several developed countries and shifting production to other locations. Despite these changes, Cadbury remains a well-known and beloved brand, especially known for its Dairy Milk chocolates, and operates in more than fifty countries worldwide.
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Cadbury's first overseas market was Australia, in 1881
Cadbury is a British multinational confectionery company owned by Mondelēz International. It is headquartered in Uxbridge, London, and operates in over fifty countries. Cadbury was started in 1824 by John Cadbury, who began selling tea, coffee, and drinking chocolate from his premises in Birmingham.
In 1881, Cadbury received its first overseas order from Australia, marking the company's expansion beyond the UK market. This move set the stage for Cadbury's international growth and established Australia as a key market.
In 1919, as part of its global expansion strategy, Cadbury decided to construct its first factory outside the United Kingdom in Tasmania, Australia. The choice of Tasmania was influenced by its proximity to the city of Hobart, the availability of inexpensive hydroelectricity, and an abundant supply of high-quality fresh milk. The factory, known as Cadbury's Claremont, was modelled on Bournville and included a village and sporting facilities for its employees.
Over the years, Cadbury has strengthened its presence in Australia through acquisitions and partnerships. In 1967, Cadbury acquired MacRobertson's, an Australian confectionery company, outbidding its rival Mars. This acquisition increased Cadbury's market share in Australia to 60%. Additionally, in 1930, Cadbury partnered with local confectionery businessman Richard Hudson, resulting in the establishment of Cadbury Hudson, later known as the Cadbury Confectionery.
Today, Cadbury continues to have a significant presence in Australia, with its products widely enjoyed by Australians. However, it is important to note that Cadbury has faced some challenges in the country, including debates around halal certification and factory closures in recent years.
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Cadbury's Claremont factory in Tasmania was its first outside the UK
Cadbury is a British multinational confectionery company owned by Mondelēz International. It is headquartered in Uxbridge, London, and operates in more than fifty countries worldwide. Its best-known products include Dairy Milk chocolates.
Cadbury's Claremont was once a popular tourist attraction, offering daily tours of the facility, showcasing the manufacturing process, and allowing visitors to sample chocolates. However, the factory ceased running full tours in 2008, citing health and safety reasons. The on-site visitor centre closed in 2015, and the factory is now closed to all visitors, although it is still open for production 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
In 2024, a private enterprise plans to develop a new "chocolate experience" theme park adjacent to the factory, offering educational exhibits about chocolate production and other attractions. This project aims to capitalise on the factory's long history and appeal, bringing back to life one of Tasmania's most beloved attractions.
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Cadbury acquired Australian confectioner MacRobertson's in 1967
Cadbury is a British multinational confectionery company owned by Mondelēz International. It is the second-largest confectionery brand in the world after Mars. Cadbury is headquartered in Uxbridge, London, and operates in more than fifty countries worldwide. Its best-known products include Dairy Milk chocolates.
In 1967, Cadbury acquired an Australian confectioner, MacRobertson's, beating a rival bid from Mars. As a result of the takeover, Cadbury built a 60 percent market share in the Australian market. The acquisition brought such brands as Freddo and Snack to the Cadbury roster.
MacRobertson's, officially the MacRobertson's Steam Confectionery Works, was an Australian company that produced chocolates and various other confectionery. The company was founded in 1880 by Sir Macpherson Robertson and was named after a combination of his first and last name. The company was based for over 100 years in Fitzroy, Victoria, but later moved to Ringwood, Victoria. They were also known for introducing chewing gum and fairy floss to Australia.
In 1969, two years after the acquisition of MacRobertson's, Cadbury merged with drinks company Schweppes to form Cadbury Schweppes. This merger put an end to Cadbury's close links to its Quaker founding family and its perceived social ethos by instilling a capitalist venture philosophy in management. Head of Schweppes, Lord Watkinson, became chairman, and Adrian Cadbury became deputy chairman and managing director.
In 2003, Cadbury Schweppes acquired Adams, the US chewing gum operations of Pfizer Inc., for $4.2 billion, making Cadbury the world's biggest confectionery company. In 2005, Cadbury Schweppes acquired Green & Black's for £20 million. In March 2007, Cadbury Schweppes announced that it would split its business into two separate entities: one focusing on its main chocolate and confectionery market, and the other on its US drinks business. The demerger took effect on 2 May 2008, with the drinks business becoming Dr Pepper Snapple Group and Cadbury Schweppes plc becoming Cadbury plc.
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Mondelez began closing Cadbury factories in several developed countries in 2015
Cadbury, a British multinational confectionery company, is owned by Mondelez International, a US-based company. Cadbury was acquired by Mondelez International (spun off from Kraft Foods) in 2010. Mondelez International's portfolio includes several billion-dollar confectionery, food, and beverage brands.
In 2015, Mondelez began closing Cadbury factories in several developed countries, including Ireland, Canada, the United States, and New Zealand. The company shifted production to countries like China, India, Brazil, and Mexico, which offered cost advantages. The closure of factories in cities like Dublin, Montreal, Chicago, and Philadelphia generated outcries from local populations, as they had been a significant part of the community and provided numerous jobs.
The decision to close these factories was driven by a US$3 billion cost-cutting programme implemented by Mondelez in response to diminishing margins in early 2014. The programme aimed to reduce costs across the company's assets, including Cadbury and Oreo brands.
The closure of the Cadbury factories was part of a wider shift in Mondelez's operations. The company cited increasing costs and the distance to its markets as reasons for the closures, even though the factories were still profitable. This decision was in line with the findings of a survey by the NZ Institute of Economic Research, which identified the distance to markets as a significant barrier to expansion for New Zealand manufacturers.
The impact of the factory closures was significant, with hundreds of jobs lost in each location. For example, the closure of the Somerdale Factory in Keynsham, formerly part of Fry's, resulted in the loss of between 500 and 700 jobs. Similarly, the closure of the Dunedin factory in New Zealand by March 2018 was estimated to lead to the loss of 350 jobs.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Cadbury is not Australian-owned. It is a British multinational confectionery company owned by Mondelēz International.
Cadbury's products were first imported into Australia as early as 1853, and the company's first overseas order in 1881 was made for the Australian market. In 1919, Cadbury decided to build a factory in Tasmania, Australia, marking its first factory outside of the United Kingdom.
Some people observe that Australian Cadbury products are sweeter and have a higher amount of vegetable fat compared to their UK counterparts, which are perceived as chalkier.
Yes, there are Australian-owned chocolate companies, such as Whittaker's, which is based in New Zealand.
Yes, Cadbury has faced some controversies in Australia, including debates around halal certification of its products and the closure of its visitor's centre and reduction of its workforce at the Hobart factory in 2017.










































