Cadbury

spider web Children's Web Magazine

Home

Cadbury

The chocolate company Cadbury was started by John Cadbury. The Cadbury's like the Rowntree's were a Quaker family. John Cadbury was a deeply religious man. The Quaker religion believed in helping to put an
end to poverty.
John Cadbury's first job was as an apprentice in Leeds in 1818 to a tea dealer. Then in 1824 he opened a grocer shop in Birmingham. There he
sold cocoa and drinking chocolate.
He then wanted to produce his products on a larger scale so he purchased
a warehouse. His brother went into the business with him when John Cadbury retired his sons Richard and George took over.
During his retirement he got involved in doing good works. He was against animal cruelty and tired to put a stop to young boys being used as chimney sweeps. They used to be sent up a chimney to clean it. It eventually
became against the law to use boys as chimney sweeps.
George Cadbury discovered Bournville which was just outside Birmingham
asthe site for a new factory. He also created the Bournville village. So
that industrial workers could have good and affordable housing. The
housing was not simply for Cadbury workers but all workers. In 1901 the site became The Bournville Village Trust. He helped with education in the area as well.
People were healthier, happier and would live longer as a consequence of
the housing scheme. Like Rowntree this family firm did a great deal for
its workers and the community. At the beginning of 2010 Cadbury was
sold to the American company Kraft. Many including a lot of it's workers
did not want it to be sold. Whether Kraft can carry on the philosophy of
Cadbury remains to be seen but it has a great deal to live up to.

© Children's Web Magazine 2010