Quaker, Cadbury And Chocolate

Quaker, Cadbury and Chocolate

Born into a Quaker family in 1801 many opportunities were shut off from him. But that didn't stop him. In 1818 John Cadbury became an apprentice to a tea dealer in Leeds.

Later, in 1824, the young Quaker, opened a grocer’s shop on 93 Bull Street Birmingham. Besides groceries, he sold cocoa and drinking chocolate which he prepared himself. This was the foundation of Cadbury Limited, one of the world's largest producers of chocolate.

The Cadbury family were prominent members of the Society of Friends or Quakers. Quakers held strong beliefs and ideals which they carried into 'campaigns for justice, equality and social reform, putting an end to poverty and deprivation.'

As nonconformists, Quakers were not permitted to enter the universities, which in the 19th century were closely linked with the established church. Entry into the professions was impossible and pacifist principles precluded the military as a career.

The energies and talents of Quaker families were therefore directed towards business, social reform and the transformation of social and industrial society in Victorian Britain. John Cadbury's lifelong involvement with the Temperance Society had an influence on the direction of his business enterprise.

By providing tea, coffee, cocoa and chocolate as an alternative to alcohol, which was believed to be one of the causes of poverty and deprivation amongst working people, he felt that he was helping to alleviate some of the misery.

In 1831 a small factory was started from renting an old malt house in Crooked Lane, Birmingham. John Cadbury became a manufacturer of drinking chocolate and cocoa.

The business was moved to a new factory in 1847 and John partnered with his brother Benjamin. They changed the name of the company to Cadbury Brothers.

But after John’s wife died and his illness afterward the business began to decline rapidly. The partnership was dissolved and John retired in 1861. In his retirement he began his philanthropy work.

Richard and George Cadbury, John’s two sons, was handed over complete control of the business.

George was in Holland in 1866 and bought a unique new cocoa press from a Dutch manufacturer, Van Houten. Later the same year the Cadbury brothers introduced a new much more palatable chocolate: Cocoa Essence - the forerunner of the cocoa we know today.