Oh no! The iconic Cadbury Somerdale site in the UK is up for sale. Last January, Kraft acquired this nearly 200 year old company for close to $19 B. Considered the largest European beverage and food deal on record, it also represents the loss of historic confectionery legend started by John Cadbury in 1824 in Birmingham, UK.
As a Quaker, John Cadbury believed that traditionally served alcoholic beverages such as beer and wine lead to poverty and morale decay. Cadbury introduced alternative beverages to the market by serving, cocoa, hot chocolate, coffee and tea in his Birmingham shop. By 1842, Cadbury was selling an array of cocoas and drinking chocolates (11 types of cocoa and 16 drinking chocolates).
Soon the company turned into a family affair as other family members came to support and operate the Cadbury empire. Along the way, Cadbury supported his employees by building living quarters near the production factories allowing families to be close to work and assisting employees with maintaining a comfortable work life balance.
The 220 acre Somerdale site includes 600 residential units along with various confectionery production equipment.
A petition was started to help protect this site from future development at http://www.saveoursomerdale.co.uk/
