As part of its 200th anniversary celebrations, Cadbury’s owners have reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining the historic Bournville factory in the West Midlands. This is a huge privilege for managing director Louise Stigant, who emphasized the importance of the plant and referred to it as the “Crown Jewels” of Cadbury.
Despite facing challenges such as a hostile takeover by American firm Kraft in 2010 and subsequent job losses and production being moved to Poland, Cadbury has remained a staple in the UK. The factory became part of Kraft’s confectionery arm, Mondelez International, in 2012, with Bournville serving as the Global Centre of Excellence for chocolate research and development.
However, despite these difficulties, Stigant highlighted that Cadbury has invested significantly in its UK business since taking over 14 years ago. With over £270m invested since then, Bournville remains at the forefront of Cadbury’s plans and will continue to be seen as its top priority. Stigant reiterated this commitment by stating that Bournville will always be the “home and heart” of Cadbury.
