Cadbury Loses Royal Warrant After 170 Years of Royal Approval

 

For the first time in 170 years, Cadbury, the storied chocolatier, has been unceremoniously removed from the prestigious list of royal warrant holders.

The Birmingham-based company, renowned for its chocolate and cocoa products, was first granted the esteemed royal warrant by Queen Victoria in 1854. However, under the reign of King Charles, Cadbury’s long-standing endorsement has been rescinded.

Mondelez International, the US-based conglomerate that owns Cadbury, expressed its disappointment at the loss of such a significant accolade. The royal warrant has long been a symbol of quality and trust, reserved for those who provide goods or services to the monarchy.

Under King Charles, 386 businesses previously holding royal warrants from the late Queen Elizabeth II have been reappointed, with high-profile names such as John Lewis, Heinz, and Nestlé among those continuing to enjoy royal recognition. Royal warrants are granted for a period of up to five years and serve as a mark of distinction for companies that have supplied goods or services to the royal family.

Among the King’s newly appointed warrant holders are several notable food and beverage brands, including Moët & Chandon, Weetabix, and chocolate makers Bendicks and Prestat Ltd. Warrant recipients are entitled to display the royal coat of arms on their packaging, advertisements, and stationery, signifying their prestigious association with the monarchy.

Earlier in the year, the King faced calls from the campaign group B4Ukraine to revoke warrants from companies with ongoing operations in Russia, in protest of the invasion of Ukraine. Mondelez, alongside consumer goods giant Unilever, which also had its royal endorsement withdrawn, was specifically named in the request.

A spokesperson for Mondelez expressed regret, stating, “While we are disappointed to be among the many businesses in the UK not to receive a renewed warrant, we take pride in the honor of having held one in the past and fully respect the decision.”

Unilever, for its part, expressed its continued pride in the long history of its brands' association with the royal family, having most recently received a warrant from the late Queen Elizabeth II. Cadbury, along with several other brands, has seen its royal warrant revoked under the King’s new list.

Professor David Bailey from Birmingham Business School commented on the financial implications of the decision, explaining that the removal of the royal warrant would necessitate changes to Cadbury’s packaging and branding, potentially incurring significant costs.

The royal warrant is often seen as a prestigious “seal of approval” that brings tangible benefits to British businesses, bolstering their reputation both domestically and internationally. Professor Bailey argued, “What purpose does a royal warrant serve, if not to support British jobs and the British economy?”

Cadbury, which celebrated its 200th anniversary earlier this year, traces its origins back to 1824 when founder John Cadbury opened a modest grocery shop in Birmingham selling cocoa and drinking chocolate. Over the years, the company flourished, especially under the leadership of his sons, who established the renowned Bournville factory, once the largest cocoa producer in the world.

In a highly contentious move, Cadbury was acquired by US food giant Kraft in 2010. By 2012, Cadbury became part of Kraft’s Mondelez division, marking the end of its era as an independent British brand.