Cadbury Loses Its Royal Warrant After 170 Years
Chocolate maker Cadbury has been removed from the list of royal warrant holders for the first time in 170 years. The Birmingham-based chocolatier, which first received a royal warrant as chocolate and cocoa manufacturers from Queen Victoria in 1854, has lost this royal endorsement under King Charles.
Cadbury’s US parent company, Mondelez International, expressed disappointment over the loss of the warrant. The King has granted royal warrants to 386 companies that previously held warrants from Queen Elizabeth II, including John Lewis, Heinz, and Nestle. These warrants, awarded for up to five years, recognize companies that supply goods or services to the monarchy.
Among the new warrant holders under King Charles are several food and drink companies, such as Moet and Chandon, Weetabix, and chocolate makers Bendicks and Prestat Ltd. Warrant holders are permitted to use the royal coat of arms on their packaging, advertising, or stationery.
Earlier this year, the King was urged by the campaign group B4Ukraine to revoke warrants from companies “still operating in Russia” following the invasion of Ukraine, which led to Mondelez and Unilever, another affected company, losing their endorsements.
A Mondelez spokesperson said, “While we are disappointed to be one of many businesses not awarded a new warrant, we are proud of our history with the royal household and fully respect the decision.”
Unilever also expressed pride in the long-standing relationship its brands had with the royal household, most recently receiving a warrant from Queen Elizabeth II. Professor David Bailey from Birmingham Business School noted that losing the royal warrant could impact Cadbury’s costs, as it would need to remove the royal coat of arms from all its packaging.
A royal warrant is often considered a “seal of approval” and is believed to provide significant economic benefits to UK businesses. Professor Bailey emphasized the positive impact of the royal endorsement, stating, “What is a royal warrant for, if it isn’t to help British jobs and British production?”
This year, Cadbury celebrated its 200th anniversary after John Cadbury opened his first shop in Birmingham in 1824. The company expanded under the leadership of his sons, eventually becoming the world’s largest cocoa manufacturer with the Bournville factory. After being acquired by Kraft in 2010, Cadbury became part of Mondelez International in 2012.