Mondelez denies moving production of Dairy Milk chocolate bars to Poland
16 Jan 2017
Cadbury's US owner, the confectionary giant Mondelez is making an increasing amount of its iconic Dairy Milk chocolate bars in eastern Europe rather than at its traditional UK base, according to reports.
The company, created by Kraft, had switched production of its large 300g bars of Dairy Milk and some of the classic 95g bars to its expanded factories in Wroclaw, according to reports.
The move broke a pledge to continue production of the sweets at its historic Bournville home in Birmingham. Kraft made the promise after its controversial takeover of Cadbury seven years ago, which caused an outcry among people who swore by the domestic produce, as they feared for the future of their favourite chocolates.
According to Mondelez the production in Poland of its 95g bars was a 'temporary move' as Bournville had been busy in the run-up to Christmas and insisted it was once again being manufactured in the UK.
However, many traditionalists claim it was another sign that the link between the UK's biggest chocolate brand and its old Quaker headquarters near Birmingham was being weakened.
James Cadbury, a member of the founding family, who now runs his own chocolate company, Love Cocoa, told the Mail On Sunday: ''I'm very disappointed. Bournville and Dairy Milk are synonymous.''
Meanwhile, Mondlez had denied breaking its promise of keeping Dairy Milk production in Bournville.
Dairy Milk was first manufactured in 1905 at the then Quaker company's iconic factory in the Midlands, but today a 300gm bar would most likely have been produced 1,000 miles away from its birth place, in Wroclaw, Poland.
Mondelez denied that production had been shifted and clarified they had not permanently, moved the production location.
A spokeswoman for the company told Metro that the 95g bars were only made in Wroclaw temporarily as a £75 million upgrade to the Bournville factory was in the underway.
