Latest news with #Cadbury
Times
a day ago
- Business
- Times
Cadbury hires 50 tasters to test chocolate for a living
If you eat chocolate you probably have a repertoire of firm favourites that you return to, but Cadbury still hopes to tempt you into trying something new. Its owner Mondelez International has invested nearly £3.5 million on a new tasting centre in Bournville as it doubles down on the UK as its global research hub for chocolate. Chocolate lovers will regularly join 50 newly-trained tasters at the consumer tasting facility, which opens in June inside an existing building, as the company explores new aromas, textures and flavours — or what it calls 'attributes'. There were thousands of applicants for the roles which will play a key part in product development for much-loved brands including Cadbury, Milka and Toblerone. According to Louise Stigant, the UK managing director, a typical session will see a panel of 12 chocolate tasters sample products and discuss their attributes, with the feedback used to refine the product's development. But this is not an all-day chocolate binge: people can only try things out for a couple of hours before their taste buds become overwhelmed. Stigant said: 'I think it should give us an advantage so that we understand our consumers better. The consumer research piece should then help us to make sure that we're both making quality products consistently and getting clearer about innovation.' Every chocolate product that Mondelez makes and sells in over 150 countries around the world begins its development in the UK. Since 2018 Mondelez has invested £16 million in its research and development facilities here and now has more than750 research personnel including food scientists, nutritionists and engineers. Its latest product launch is a collaboration with Lotus Bakeries' Biscoff. The resulting Cadbury Dairy Milk Biscoffhas sold several million pounds worth of units in its first month. Stigant said: 'The textural piece is what people seem to be really intrigued by: the softness, the chocolate and the creaminess, and then there's a crunch with Biscoff. It's that newness that excites people.' She added: 'Having the R&D centre alongside manufacturing has meant that we've been able to move with pace from the concept idea last June through to actually having it on the shelves in the last few weeks.' Cadbury has never stood still. The brand traces its roots back to 1824 when John Cadbury opened a grocer's shop in Bull Street, Birmingham. Among the groceries, he sold cocoa and drinking chocolate. In 1879 John's son George and brother Richard moved their business from Birmingham's city centre to a site four miles away, naming it Bournville after the nearby stream, the Bourn. The move was driven by both the need to expand their business and a desire to provide better living conditions for their employees. Dairy Milk was launched in 1905 and by 1914 had become the company's best-selling product. Over the years since then the chocolate maker has created plenty of other famous products including Roses, Creme Eggs and Heroes. A new era dawned in 2010 when the US consumer goods giant Kraft Foods bought Cadbury for £11.5 billion after a hostile takeover battle that triggered widespread opposition over fears the British firm would lose some of its lustre. Kraft subsequently spun off its global snacks business, including Cadbury, as Mondelez International. Yet over the past ten years Mondelez has invested nearly £300 million in its UK manufacturing footprint, increasing production efficiency by 30 per cent and expanding overall capacity. It has eight sites across the UK, employing over 4,000 people directly and 10,000 indirectly. This includes factories in Bournville and Sheffield, a cocoa bean processing plant in Chirk, north Wales, and a milk processing facility in Marlbrook, Worcestershire. Stigant said the aim is to 'compete in the UK from a manufacturing point of view. We're the number one brand in the UK and have been for quite a period of time, and I think that's an important indicator that the brand is being loved and treated in the way it should be'. FENNELL PHOTOGRAPHY The appetite for Cadbury's products shows no sign of waning despite the popularity of anti-obesity jabs, according to Stigant, who pointed out that the overall snacking category is still growing. It is not all plain sailing, however, given the high price of cocoa and the rise in other input costs. 'We have absorbed some of those and then we've had no alternative but to pass on some of those costs to consumers through either very carefully thought-through pricing or by reducing the size of products.' Products that do not take off are discontinued. Such was the fate of the low-sugar version of Dairy Milk, dropped in 2023 despite a three-year development by 20 scientists and £2 million marketing spend. Next to be put to the consumer test is temperature-activated packaging. Available from June on some limited edition Dairy Milk bars, the packaging features four summer-themed designs: deck chairs, umbrellas, kites and inflatables. Using so-called thermochromic technology, the wrapper changes to reveal a deep blue colouring when each bar is chilled. At Christmas there are likely to be more new treats from the 201-year old firm but they are being kept strictly under wraps for now.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Cadbury makes Freddo chocolate smaller as price stays the same in supermarkets
The chocolate maker has reduced its Freddo multipacks by 20%, but the price of it has remained the same in some major supermarkets Cadbury has reduced the size of one of its beloved chocolate products while the price has remained the same in a blow to shoppers. The chocolate maker has reduced its Freddo multipacks by 20%, but the price of it has remained the same in some major supermarkets. According to a report from the Grocer Magazine, the former Freddo 5x18g and Freddo Caramel 5x19.5g multipacks both had a pre-promotional price of £1.40 at Tesco. However, they have since been replaced by 4x18g and Freddo Caramel 4x19.5g multipacks - both still priced at £1.40. This was also seen at Morrisons, which has sold both the five-pack and four-pack varieties for £1.40. The Grocer found that Sainsbury's also sold the original multipacks of five and the new four packs - both priced at £1.40. A spokesman for Cadbury owner Mondelez confirmed the manufacturer had reduced the weight of its Freddo multipacks, due to 'significantly higher input costs" for ingredients such as cocoa and dairy. They added: "Meanwhile, other costs like energy and transport, also remain high. 'This means that our products continue to be much more expensive to make and while we have absorbed these costs where possible, we still face considerable challenges. 'As a result of this difficult environment, we have had to make the decision to slightly reduce the weight of our Cadbury Dairy Milk Freddo multipacks so that we can continue to provide consumers with the brands they love, without compromising on the great taste and quality they expect." Shrinkflation happens when consumer products get smaller in weight, size or quantity while their prices stay the same or even increase. While skimpflation is when a product swaps out ingredients for cheaper alternatives, again without changing the price. Sign up to Mirror Money's newsletter for the latest advice and news From universal credit to furlough, employment rights, travel updates and emergency financial aid - we've got all of the big financial stories you need to know about right now. The strategy is used to boost or maintain profit margins and is mainly utilised by companies in the food and drink industry. Shrinkflation can seem sneaky as some users pointed out in this Lidl case, but is not illegal as producers will still continue to indicate the weight, volume or quantity on their packaging. It became a common practice among retailers in 2022 amid record-high inflation and supply chain issues. An investigation by the consumer group Which? in 2024 found that a large number of companies had implemented the practice. These included supermarket chains such as Tesco and Morrisons and major brands such as Listerine, Lurpak, McVitie's, Yeo Valley, and Coffee Mate.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Customer fury as UK's favourite chocolate's £1.40 multipack shrinks meaning it's cheaper to buy a single 30p bar
Customers on the Tesco website said it was just another example of shrinkflation 'MAKE IT MAKE SENSE' Customer fury as UK's favourite chocolate's £1.40 multipack shrinks meaning it's cheaper to buy a single 30p bar PACKS of Freddos have shrunk from five to four — making the family favourites cheaper to buy individually. The new smaller multipacks still cost £1.40 at Tesco, meaning the price of each chocolate bar has gone from 28p to 35p. Meanwhile, single ones cost about 30p. 2 Packs of family favourite Freddos have shrunk from five to four 2 Freddos are now cheaper to buy individually Experts have blamed the move — equivalent to a 25 per cent price increase — on the soaring cost of cocoa. But customers on the Tesco website said it was just another example of shrinkflation. One wrote: 'A single Freddo is 30p and pack of Freddos used to be a 5 pack but now a 4 pack is £1.40. "Make it make sense.' Another said: 'Cheaper to buy 4 bars separately, used to get 5 bars at this price.' Tesco and Waitrose are the first to stock the new packs, with Waitrose offering them for a promotional price of £1, down from £1.80. Other supermarkets still have the five-packs in stock. Cadbury's owner Mondelez International said it had to pass on higher costs for ingredients, energy and transport. Susannah Streeter, of investment company Hargreaves Lansdown, said: 'The sharp rise in the cost of cocoa, which is such a crucial ingredient, has caused a big headache for chocolate manufacturers. 'They have also had to absorb higher energy costs and wage growth. People are only just realising why Dairy Milk chocolate and Freddos taste different - and they're saying one is MUCH tastier 'But producers know consumers will not swallow much bigger increases. "Though wholesale prices have come down slightly, they remain triple the price compared to two years ago. 'So, reducing the numbers of bars in packs or the weight of individual products is the strategy they are deploying.' Harvir Dhillon, economist at the British Retail Consortium, said: 'Chocolate prices, which are largely decided by large manufacturers, have been hit hard by global cocoa prices. 'The cost of cocoa has been badly affected by poor harvests in parts of Africa.'
The Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
B&M brings back ‘blast from the past' retro sweets after 20 YEARS as shoppers race to fill trolleys
B&M fans are in a frenzy after spying retro sweets back on shelves. Eagle-eyed shoppers are delighted by the find, calling the sweets a "blast from the past". 2 2 Posting in the Food Finds UK Official Facebook group, a public group with 560,000 members, one shopper beamed: "A blast from the past, found in B&M." Alongside the post, she shared a picture of Horlicks Original Tablets, which were priced at £1.75, in the bargain retailer. The chewable version of the malted beverage originally launched in the 1930s, and was given to troops in WW2 to help boost their energy. They remained popular into the 1980s, but had disappeared from shelves by the end of the 20th century. However, back in 2023, Horlicks brought back the sweets, for its 150th anniversary. Horlicks revealed that it brought the sweets back "in response to unprecedented demand from consumers across the nation." And now, two years on from the relaunch, the sweets have been spotted again in B&M stores. The post was flooded with comments from excited shoppers, sharing their love for the sweets. One person said: "I haven't see these in ages omg." Another person said: "They've been reduced to 10p in ours." 'So excited' say Cadbury Ireland fans as new chocolate bar flavour to hit shelves TODAY Others tagged their friends to let them now about the find. This follows speculation that another popular snack, which was discontinued in 2003, is returning to stores. TikToker Minstrel Munches recently caused a buzz on social media, after speculating that White Maltesers will be making a return to stores. In a recent TikTok post, she said: "They are coming back. How to save money on chocolate We all love a bit of chocolate from now and then, but you don't have to break the bank buying your favourite bar. Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how to cut costs... Go own brand - if you're not too fussed about flavour and just want to supplant your chocolate cravings, you'll save by going for the supermarket's own brand bars. Shop around - if you've spotted your favourite variety at the supermarket, make sure you check if it's cheaper elsewhere. Websites like let you compare prices on products across all the major chains to see if you're getting the best deal. Look out for yellow stickers - supermarket staff put yellow, and sometimes orange and red, stickers on to products to show they've been reduced. They usually do this if the product is coming to the end of its best-before date or the packaging is slightly damaged. Buy bigger bars - most of the time, but not always, chocolate is cheaper per 100g the larger the bar. So if you've got the appetite, and you were going to buy a hefty amount of chocolate anyway, you might as well go bigger. "They are expected to be released in the middle of June or the start of July." The popular Food Finds UK Official Facebook group also claimed that the chocolate is making a comeback, but Mars has yet to comment on the claims. And chocolate fans were left devastated recently, after Fry's Coffee Cream bars were discontinued by Cadbury. The British chocolate makers said: "We continuously adapt our product range to ensure it meets changing tastes whilst supporting growth for our customers and our business. 'Our Fry's Coffee Cream multi-packs were introduced as a limited-edition product in summer 2023 for fans to enjoy while stocks lasted. "They have since been discontinued but we still have plenty of other delicious Fry's products for consumers to choose from, including Fry's Chocolate Cream and Fry's Peppermint Cream Multipacks."
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Cadbury slashes prices on leftover Easter chocolates with treats as low as £1
If you're looking to stock up on some sweet treats at a major discount then Cadbury's post-Easter chocolate sale is the place to head to Easter may be over, but the chocolate certainly isn't. If you're keen to bag some sweet deals at a significant discount - think £1 and £2 for bundles - then Cadbury's post-Easter chocolate sale is your destination. From leftover Easter eggs to massive Dairy Milk chocolate bars and favourite bundles starting from just 65p, there's a chocolate treat for everyone, whether it's a self-indulgence or a gift for a loved one. And Cadbury's isn't alone in offering fantastic discounts on surplus chocolate. Lindt also has some remaining discounts on their Easter egg bundles and mini egg packs. There's no current indication of how long these offers will last, so we recommend grabbing them quickly before the Easter chocolate makes way for Christmas treats. One of the best bargains that caught our attention was the Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate Chunky Easter Egg (Box of 4). Originally priced at £60, this box of four Easter eggs is now just £28 - a whopping 53% saving, reports OK!. This bundle includes four chunky Cadbury's milk chocolate Easter eggs, one giant milk chocolate Easter egg with an extra thick shell, and one bag of Cadbury's chocolate chunks. Additionally, you can grab the Cadbury White Chocolate Buttons Easter Eggs for just £1, down from £3.29. While the saving might not be massive, these Easter eggs are currently unavailable in supermarkets and you'll have to wait until next Easter if you want to get your hands on the egg. This egg, a fresh addition from Cadbury in 2024, comprises a 98g white chocolate egg filled with Cadbury's white chocolate buttons. Scrumptious. The Cadbury's Easter Favourites Chocolate Pouch, featuring the much-adored mini eggs and creme eggs, is down from £8 to £5, making it an ideal treat for your little ones (or even yourself). For those who don't mind slightly damaged chocolate, Cadbury's has its XL 850g milk chocolate bar on offer, reduced from £11.50 to £8.50. Rest assured, the chocolate is fully sealed and untouched; there might just be minor scuffing or damage to the outer packaging, hence the discount.
