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Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Rude Food by Vir Sanghvi: No bitter memories
Chocolate is the smell of my childhood. I would wake up every morning to chocolate aromas wafting up to the top of Mumbai's Cumballa Hill where I lived. On Peddar Road, at the bottom of the hill, in a not-very-large white building, was the Cadbury factory, and the aromas it exuded defined much of my growing up. (It cannot be a coincidence that vanilla is still one of my favourite smells.) Indian chocolate brands such as Manam use beans grown on Indian soil. As I grew older, the factory moved to the suburbs and the white building became the office. But they kept the bungalow next to it, where the managing director lived. In my early years as a journalist, I was once sent to interview the British MD of Cadbury in that bungalow. He was kind enough to take an inexperienced journalist seriously and explained that one of the biggest challenges in his job was keeping the prices of such popular Cadbury brands as Fruit & Nut low because Cadbury imported chocolate, and global prices were volatile. But because he did not want to disappoint the many children who loved 'Cads', as the chocolate bar was nicknamed, the company had evolved two strategies. The first was to create bars that used less of the expensive chocolate: The 5 Star was one example. This was a familiar strategy already employed in many foreign countries: 5 Star was probably inspired by the Mars Bar. Forty years ago, Cadbury was trying to persuade Indian farmers to grow the cocoa bean. (ADOBE STOCK) The second strategy involved a higher degree of difficulty. Cadbury was trying to persuade Indian farmers to grow the cocoa bean so it was less dependent on imported chocolate. The problem, he said, was that the Indian bean just didn't taste right when you turned it into chocolate. Experts from Cadbury UK had worked with local farmers, he said, and had managed to get around that problem. He thought that Cadbury would eventually be able to depend on Indian farmers for a substantial proportion of its chocolate needs. This was forty or so years ago, so there was nothing unusual about chatting to a Brit who lived in a lovely bungalow in the shadow of Cumballa Hill, about Indian farmers. And because the gobbledygook had yet to be invented, he did not use such expressions as farm-to-table or bean-to-bar or talk about Cadbury's commitment to Indian farmers or about localisation and carbon miles. He was a practical man, and his focus was on keeping the prices of his chocolates low enough for children to be able to enjoy them. I did not know enough then to discuss the decision to grow the cocoa bean in India from a historical perspective. Most food historians regard the story of chocolate as a prime example of imperialism in action. The cocoa bean was brought to Europe by Spanish invaders, who found it in South America. And the chocolate we buy today is a European/American creation. In 1847, JS Fry, an English company, invented the chocolate bar. In 1868, Cadbury invented the chocolate box. In 1879, Nestlé invented milk chocolate. In 1900, America saw the first Hershey bar, with its distinctive spoilt-milk taste. The Mars bar appeared in England in 1932. In African countries, governments force farmers to sell cocoa beans at half the global price. (ADOBE STOCK) All of these advances were based on a South American cocoa bean. Europe did not grow chocolate. So the big Western companies got the profits, while the poor South American farmers were paid a pittance. As the demand for chocolate went up, cocoa plantations were developed in Africa and in other colonies by European powers. All of the cocoa was exported to the factories of the West. That trend has continued. When you hear of the great chocolatiers of Belgium, rarely is the source of the bean mentioned. Switzerland, a country that grows no cocoa, has a global reputation for chocolate. Valrhona, a name that chefs revere, is a French company that buys its chocolate from the Third World. Nutella comes from Italy, where no cocoa grows. So, the Cadbury initiative to help farmers cultivate the cocoa bean in India was intriguing. They were not growing it for export. They were cultivating it for Indians. I thought back to my conversation with the MD of Cadbury because of two recent developments. When Manam opened a store-restaurant in Delhi, people queued up on weekends. The first is the rise in global prices of the cocoa bean. It has tripled over the last two years and hovers at around $10,000 a tonne. In many African countries, the governments compulsorily purchase beans from farmers at half the global price. This has led to a boom in cocoa smuggling, the creation of chocolate mafias and a rise in crime. It is another of colonialism's unhappy legacies. The second development that struck me was the frenzy that accompanied the opening of the large Manam Chocolate store-restaurant in Delhi. On any weekend, there are queues of people trying to get in. This is unusual because Manam, launched only in 2021, was not a brand that anyone in Delhi knew well. Nor is there any precedent for a chocolate place becoming such a rage. The connection between Manam and my chat with the Cadbury MD decades ago is the bean. While Manam does import some beans, its real claim to fame is that it mostly uses Indian cocoa beans. As Chaitanya Muppala, the 34-year-old founder of the brand, told me, they work with 150 farmers, who cultivate the bean across 3,000 acres. Chaitanya's father ran a medium-sized mithai business in Hyderabad; when he took it over, he embarked on a massively successful expansion, opening many new outlets and branches. He was not a chocolate nerd to begin with, but saw that the chocolate market was growing at 12 to 13 per cent in India and got into it. Ruby Islam is head chef at Manam Chocolate. They have 350 products across 50 categories. His big insight was that the Indian cocoa bean, introduced originally by Cadbury, could yield world-class chocolate. He worked closely with farmers on the soil, seed genetics and cultivation. He helped introduce better drying techniques (the laborious business of turning the raw bean into chocolate is often the key to flavour) and was involved with the process long before the raw material reached the Manam 'karkhanas', as he calls them. He was also willing to take big bets. Manam has over 350 products across 50 categories, and the size of its range sometimes seems overwhelming. Its large Delhi restaurant-shop resembles something Willy Wonka would dream up, and many of the hundreds of people who throng there each day come out of sheer wonder not just out of love of chocolate. Chaitanya now has successful restaurant-shops in Hyderabad and Delhi. I imagine Mumbai and Bangalore will be next. Everyone who has tried his chocolate only has good things to say, and his PR operation is superb and formidable. While he obviously does not see Manam as an industrial operation, most of which are based on poor-quality raw material, he doesn't see it as an artisanal operation either. He makes craft chocolate, he says. And what is craft chocolate? It's chocolate that is all about the bean and its flavours. A hugely successful chocolate company based on the Indian bean? Who would have thought we would get to this stage when Cadbury first planted beans in India? It's an amazing achievement, not just because the chocolate is so good, but because it reverses colonial history. This is Indian chocolate, Chaitanya says, made for Indians, by Indians from Indian beans. From HT Brunch, August 09, 2025 Follow us on
The Sun
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Major retailer slashes price of 'exceptional' Cadbury's Father's Day gift to under £10
AMAZON has unveiled an irresistible deal on a Cadbury's Dairy Milk hamper that's ideal for Father's Day. As part of its first-ever "Everyday Essentials Week" sale, the online retailer has slashed the price of the Big Night In Dairy Milk Collection from £15.07 to just £9.99. Cadbury Big Night In Dairy Milk Collection, £15.07 £9.99 at Amazon That's a 34% discount, and the lowest price the hamper has been on Amazon since it first launched in 2023. At over a kilogram in weight, the hamper is bursting with a mixture of Cadbury classics and modern favourites. Timeless options include Dairy Milk, Dairy Milk Caramel, Dairy Milk Fruit and Nut and a full-sized bag of Dairy Milk Buttons. There are some new favourites, too, including Dairy Milk Oreo and Marvellous Creations Popping Candy. The full list of products includes: Dairy Milk (large bar and small bar) Dairy Milk Oreo (large bar) Dairy Milk Whole Nut (large bar) Dairy Milk Caramel (small bar) Dairy Milk Marvellous Creations Popping Candy (small bar) Dairy Milk Fruit and Nut (small bar) Dairy Milk Orange Giant Buttons (bag) Dairy Milk Buttons (bag) Dairy Milk Caramel Nibbles (bag) We think this would make the perfect gift for any father with a sweet tooth (especially if he's open to sharing!). It'd also be great as a secondary gift if you've still got a bit of money left in your budget. The best deals on household essentials this week *If you a click a link in this article, we may earn affiliate revenue. Our team of shopping experts are constantly on the lookout for the best deals on household essentials — whether that's pantry staples, laundry pods or necessities like kitchen and loo rolls. Here are the best deals we've spotted at Amazon this week: Nescafé Instant Cappuccino Sachets x12, £4 £2.23 - buy here Walkers Cheese and Onion Crisps 45g x32, £35.20 £19.20 - buy here Mutti Chopped Tomatoes x6, £9.18 £6 - buy here Ellis Harper Fridge Deodoriser, £13.99 £8.39 - buy here Ecover Non-Bio Laundry Detergent, £10 £6.65 - buy here Ariel The Big One Laundry Pods x69, £39 £24.50 - buy here Vanish Gold Oxi Action Plus Super Concentrated 500g, £10 £4.62 - buy here Fairy Outdoorable Fabric Conditioner x8, £40 £28 - buy here Spesh by Cusheen Lemon Scented Toilet Roll x72, £34.99 £23.99 - buy here Duck Fresh Discs x3, £15 £8.55 - buy here Biodegradable 20L Bin Liners x100, £12.99 £7.12 - buy here Mr Muscle Drain Unblocker x2, £8.56 £5.48- buy here Reviewers love this product, having awarded it an impressive 4.6 stars on Amazon from almost 1,800 reviews. One reviewer wrote: "Great variety of chocolate. It makes a fun gift for someone [if] you haven't got a clue what to buy them!" Another said: "We purchased this as a present for a Cadbury chocolate lover. It was very good value. Work it out with the individual prices. "The bars are in a sturdy box, making it easy to gift wrap. I will be buying this again." However, one recipient wrote about the downside of the gift: "Opened on Christmas morning, I hardly saw any of it, as the family dived in and loved it."
Evening Standard
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Evening Standard
Leah Williamson exclusive: Arsenal's 'unwavering belief' can win us the Champions League
'You have to play your role, and ultimately, one day, you're the one with more experience. If I think back to early in my career, I wanted the people in those shoes at the time to help me,' adds Williamson, speaking at the launch of Cadbury Game Changers, a nationwide search to celebrate those who go above and beyond to support others. The campaign is calling for people to nominate their local Game Changers for recognition via the Cadbury UK Instagram channel.
The Sun
18-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Shoppers rush to buy ‘favourite' discontinued Cadbury treat in B&M
SHOPPERS are rushing to buy a discontinued Cadbury treat that has been spotted at B&M. Eagle-eyed customers could not believe their eyes when they spotted Dairy Milk Rounds on the aisle of the bargain store. 1 The post was shared by Snack Reviews on Facebook, with shoppers quick to share their excitement. One shopper wrote: "They are so nice". While a second added: "I'm sure they did them back when I was a kid? Can't wait to get some." And a third said: " ages." However many customers moaned that treat had a unsavoury taste which wasn't the same as normal Cadbury chocolate - as the treat is currently manufactured and sold in Australia. One shopper said: "Don't don't even taste like dairy milk. They are from Australia so not the same dairy milk taste we're used to in the UK." And another joked: "How many more shapes they gonna sell simple chocolate in *yawn*." The product retails for £1.25 at B&M. While Cadbury axed the product a few years back, they have made sporadic returns since. B&M last sold the imported chocolate last November, much to shoppers delight. 'Why is no-one talking about this-' woman says about B&M buy that'll transform her bathroom for 'less than a Domino's' But if you are keen to shop the offer you will need to head to your nearest B&M as you can not shop the deal online. With that in mind it may be worth ringing up your local branch ahead of time to avoid disappointment. You can find your nearest B&M by visiting And it's not the only rare chocolate spotted on the retailers shelves in recent weeks. Dairy Milk Slices Shortcake Biscuit chocolate bar is now available in B&M stores. It was available in the UK until around 2008 but then was axed from shelves. Choc lovers are flocking to their nearest store to get their hands on the packs of Milkybar KitKat. The Australian import combines white milky bar chocolate with tasty KitKat wafer. HOW TO SAVE AT B&M The best time to get cut-price products is 10am on a Wednesday, according to one ex B&M manager. This is when staff slash items to as little as 10p to clear excess stock and make way for new products. Deals expert Tom Church said to keep an eye out for red sticker products as well. These are added to special buy products that have been reduced in price. It's worth signing up to Facebook pages dedicated to hunting for bargains from B&M and other discounters too. Two worth joining are B&M Bargains, Extreme Money Saving Deals and More and Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK group. 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.
North Wales Chronicle
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- North Wales Chronicle
Cadbury to release new Twirl White Dipped chocolate bar
The confectionery company is responsible for a range of popular chocolates including Freddos, Boost, Crunchie, Creme Eggs and the classic Dairy Milk. Now Cadbury has revealed a new Twirl White Dipped chocolate bar, which is set for release in stores across the UK "soon". The new chocolate is the Cadbury Twirl bar everyone knows and loves, but with a "delicious" twist - it's dipped in white chocolate. A post shared by Cadbury UK (@cadburyuk) Twirl Brand Manager at Mondelez International, Katya Savelieva, said: "Cadbury Twirl has always been a fan favourite, so it's no surprise that limited editions like Cadbury Twirl Orange and Cadbury Twirl Mint had everyone talking. "With smooth white chocolate surrounding our iconic milk chocolate swirls, the new Twirl White Dipped is an indulgence you won't want to miss - grab it as soon as you can and experience Twirl like never before!" Cadbury fans won't have long to wait for the release of the new Twirl White Dipped chocolate bar (RRP: 99p). Cadbury has revealed the new chocolate will be available to buy in the UK from June 2, 2025. But once they hit shelves, you'll have to be quick, as they will only be available for a limited time. Shoppers have already taken to social media to share their excitement about the new Cadbury Twirl White Dipped chocolate bar. One person, commenting on Cadbury's Instagram post about the new chocolate, said: "Oh yes cannot wait for this." Another added: "Wow wow wow!" A third person commented: "Can't wait to try it. Looks yummy." While a fourth shopper compared the new Twirl to Cadbury's discontinued Flake Snow chocolate bar. They posted: "Omg this reminds of the Snowflake @cadburyuk launched like 24/25 years ago!!" RECOMMENDED READING: Cadbury's Flake Snow chocolate bar was first launched in the UK back in 2000. The bar had a white chocolate flake center, covered in milk chocolate. But it only lasted eight years in the UK, with Cadbury revealing in 2008 the chocolate bar had been discontinued.
