[IMAGE – NEWSX]
Cadbury, a famous British chocolate company, has lost its special permission to supply goods to the royal family after 170 years. This permission, called a “royal warrant,” was first given to Cadbury by Queen Victoria in 1854. However, it was not renewed during a recent review by King Charles III.
Cadbury, which is now part of the American company Mondelez International, said it was sad about the decision. A company representative mentioned, “We are proud to have had a royal warrant since 1854, and we really appreciated our connection with the royal family. Even though we are disappointed, we will keep honoring our long history and our promise to make high-quality products.”
The official reasons for canceling the warrant have not been made public. But there are a few possible reasons that might explain the decision. One important factor is that Mondelez International, the company that owns Cadbury, has been criticized for still doing business in Russia while the conflict in Ukraine continues. In May 2023, Ukraine’s National Agency on Corruption Prevention called Mondelez an “international sponsor of war,” which led to people in many countries refusing to buy their products.
Another factor could be King Charles III’s focus on health and environmental concerns. The king supports healthier living, which might not fit well with a chocolate company like Cadbury. Julian Payne, who used to work for the king, mentioned that Charles prefers a healthy diet, and this could have affected the decision to review the warrant.
Losing the royal warrant means Cadbury has to stop using the royal coat of arms on its products and ads within a year. This will require changes to packaging and branding, but the company has said its famous purple packaging will stay the same.
Cadbury is one of about 100 companies that lost their royal warrants after a recent review. Other well-known brands, like Unilever, which makes Marmite, were also affected. On the other hand, some companies linked to Russia, such as Nestlé, kept their warrants, which has raised questions about how the review was done.
The royal warrant system has been around since the 15th century. It is a way to recognize companies that have provided goods or services to the royal family for at least five years. These warrants are checked regularly and can be taken away if a company doesn’t meet the requirements anymore or if the type of goods and services they offer changes a lot.
Even though Cadbury losing its royal warrant is a big deal, the brand is still very popular in the candy business. The company keeps making new products and stays strong in both the UK and other countries. Despite this problem, Cadbury’s long history and dedication to quality mean it will probably stay a favorite with chocolate fans around the world.
BY – NIKITA
