BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......

Subject: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 03:09 AM

...away from us, as Kraft try to take over...


And another petal falls from the shores of England.


WHY are we selling off all that is our past?


Cadbury - A Part of England....

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 03:17 AM

CAdbury are fighting back though, they say the amount offered by Kraft is derisory.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 03:24 AM

Yes, but they're still selling up...and it looks as if it'll be sold abroad, Liz. I found a Sky article on the takeover bid, but I can't link to it, unfortunately...The Italian company who own Ferrero Roche look pretty interested too.

Cadbury is a part of England though, and the people who own it should be ashamed of themselves for selling it abroad.   

It's the same as Boots the Chemist, another British Institution, now owned by an Italian Billionaire, who seems to be buying up every small, independant chemist in the land and moving Boots in there, whilst hiding the shops behind hideous blacked out windows...That company is now corporatised beyond belief and treats its staff abysmally...

It's all about money...

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 03:24 AM

Of course, I should have called this thread 'Selling England by the Pound'

Darn it..

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 03:52 AM

It's the way of the world... but hey, if you're going to sell out, you might as well do it to the highest bidder.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 04:07 AM

And chocolate is, of course, an English invention...:-)

I wouldn't worry about it too much. This kind of thing has gone on for a very long time as HMS Foudroyant by Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle shows. The worse thing about the Foudroyant scandal was that we sold her for £1000, bought her back for, I think £20000 and then she sank of the coast at Blackpool:-( Worse things happen at sea as they say!

Cheers

DeG

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Michael
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 04:53 AM

Whilst I don't approve of 'British Institutions' being sold to 'Johnny Foreigner' it is, as you say Lizzie, the way of the world.
In any public company the shareholders(the majority of whom are financial institutions) have the final word whatever the directors say. And shareholders are only in it for the money.

Uncheerily (sorry Charley)
Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 05:52 AM

Well, I just rang them up, and it seems that the workforce, of around 6,000, many of whom are shareholders, don't want Cadbury's to be sold abroad. The directors are also trying their hardest to find a buyer in this country.

Every person who phones is being logged and their comments passed on to the directors themselves...

The lady I spoke to said the workforce is worried sick and are doing all in their power to ensure that Cadbury's remains a British Institution.

So, if you'd like to add your voice to saving Cadbury's, you can ring this number and talk to their Consumer Department..

0121 451 4444

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 06:53 AM

Best way to try to save them is to become a shareholder.

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 08:32 AM

I do my best by eating their product.....

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 08:52 AM

Me too, Liz.   LOL

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 09:04 AM

A drift, but Mudcatters might find this interesting. My old friend Roy Palmer, whose name you will know as compiler and editor of many of the finest folksong collections and a very distinguished folklorist and scholar, wearing another hat was until his retirement Headmaster of the Dame Elizabeth Cadbury School, Bournville — one of the most superb titles I have ever come across.

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 10:08 AM

Almost makes you want to go to school! :0) I hope they started their day with Cadbury's Drinking Chocolate.

Just been reading some of the history of the family.

John Cadbury was a Quaker...and he was also the man who led the campaign to stop young boys having to go up chimneys. He also started the forerunner to the RSPCA, the 'Animals Friends Society'

Interesting too how it talks about the way so many Quakers were forced into opening businesses, many of which are now amongst our most loved, such as Cadbury, Rowntrees, Frys, Terry's of York (or it used to be York, sadly no more I believe)....because they weren't allowed to go to University, being non-conformists, so therefore couldn't go into the 'professions' or even the army, not that Quakers would even dream of going into the army, I'm sure.

I need to start a Quaker thread...

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 10:52 AM

I presume they started Quaker Oats as well?

:D

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Maryrrf
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 10:52 AM

I've been following this as we've had some dealings with Kraft at work. I think it has become an ego thing - they are hell bound and determined to acquire Cadbury. Personally I hope they can't pull it off.

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 11:12 AM

As a Canadian raised on Cadbury's with Hershey's available, I say this could be a good thing for the USA, Cadbury's superior products and Kraft's distribution could make Cadbury's the king of US candy shelves!

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: IanC
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 11:20 AM

Quaker Oats is actually nothing to do with quakers. It's an example of a "charlatan" product.

Basically, Quakers were trusted because of their testimony to complete honesty in business. Especially in the US, this became a badge of respect and many charlatans (including quack doctors) sold their goods as "Genuine Quaker ...". The term just came to mean honest and good quality so that Quaker Oats just means "Good lod honest oats". As for their quality, you just have to judge that for yourself.

:-)
Ian
(Quaker Quaker)

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 11:24 AM

Ahhhhh - So where did the Quakers get their oats..?

:D

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 11:51 AM

cadburys cheated by changing the product ingredients and also changed sizes hoping that dumb joe public would not notice there was a big deal about it over in NZ

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 11:56 AM

Terry's (of York) Chocolate Oranges suffered the same fate....smaller last year...and since it was sold abroad, it doesn't taste anywhere near as good as it used to..

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Bill D
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 12:10 PM

As an American who has been enjoying vaious Cadbury products since about 1961, I sure hope they do NOT sell to Kraft..... stuff gets changed! And if an American company owns it, chances are a Chinese company will get it eventually.

*wishing for an ORIGINAL Cadbury's Shortcake Snack right now!*

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: GUEST,Q as guest
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 02:28 PM

Quaker Oats was the result of the merger of four companies, one being Quaker Mills of Ohio, owned by Henry Parsons Crowell, who became owner of the merged companies.

Crowell was also known as a long time president of the Moody Bible Institute.

Hershey markets several kinds of chocolate, including high cacao varieties.

Cadbury products sold in North America are made by Hershey under license, to North American tastes, and vary from the product sold in UK.
Hershey thus is a major maker and marketer of "Cadbury" branded products in North America.

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: MMario
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 02:37 PM

"to north American tastes" - or to what we have been TOLD are our tastes....

I find it sad that many European chocolates have higher cocoa content then Hershey's "SPECIAL DARK"

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Bill D
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 02:46 PM

"...made by Hershey under license, to North American tastes, and vary from the product sold in UK."

Amen! (not to THIS N. American's taste! Cadbury's flavor is distinctive, and I like it. A couple of friends have brought me Cadbury's from England, and I was in heaven...for a few days...)

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Mrrzy
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 02:48 PM

Lizzie, why is it always you starting the interesting threads?

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Will Fly
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 02:53 PM

If I'm honest, I don't particularly care for Cadbury's chocolate in any shape or form. Much prefer chocolate from France, Belgium or Switzerland, personally - simply because of the taste.

I never cared for Walls ice cream either - or such brands as Mr. Whippy - because, to me, it tastes like shite.

Unfortunately, just because it's British doesn't mean it's automatically good - and therefore worth saving as a brand. Jobs, of course, are worth saving, and that puts a different perspective on the deal...

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: GUEST,Q as guest
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 02:59 PM

Bernard Callebaut, chocolatier, member of the Callebaut family of Belgium, makes fine chocolates in Calgary, Canada.

Many other fine chocolatiers in both U. S. and Canada.

Why buy the mass market stuff?

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 04:08 PM

I also love cocoa rich chocolate with the chile varieties being to my peculiar tastes but a lot of people find them both too bitter and too rich - I have also had quite a high from the 80% cocoa stuff which some people are averse too. Cadbury and a lot of others are mass produced but, like McDonalds etc. they are popular becuae they DO suit a lot of tastes My wife for one! Like comparing pop and folk music - just beacuse we think folk has the edge we should not treat pop fans as any the worse for it.

Cheers

DeG

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 04:48 PM

Have you tried this stuff, D el G? Really, REALLY fab.

Hotel Chocolat

I like really dark chocolate, too. For quality, the Valrhona Grand Crus take some beating - there's an 85% that will blow your socks off!

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 04:59 PM

The best tasting Cadbury's chocolate, to me, are the Chocolate Buttons which still taste as their chocolate used to...

And the penny bars you used to be able to buy, little tiny purple foil wrapped bars, very thin, but oh so tasty, and affordable with your pocket money! :0) I always used to buy one when I went to get my Harold Hare comic on a Saturday morning, with Dad.

And Mr. Whippy!

Oh, Will, that brings back memories. I LOVE that ice-cream...

When we used to stay with my Granny, in Rhiwbina, just outside Cardiff, the Mr. Whippy van would come round every afternoon...and there would be Uncle Rob's boxer dog, Kurt, paws on the gate, waiting...waiting....waiting....

Uncle Rob would go out to the van and 'Mr. Whippy' would pass over a free sea-shell clam wafer filled with soft ice-cream, and he'd smile at Kurt, who was now going bananas on the other side of the gate, huge great 'dribble bubbles' blowing under his mouth, with the excited anticipation...And then through the gate Uncle Rob would come again, up to the seat in the front garden and he'd open the sea-shell and give it to Kurt, who'd lick every single drop out, before devouring the wafer shell...His strong little bottom wiggling with ecstasy, to make up for the stump, from where his real tail should have been...

And they say dogs don't smile?????? :0)

Rob loved him so deeply...and when Kurt died, he was heartbroken, buried him under the tree, just beside the pond, his favourite place in the garden...and he never had another dog again, because he couldn't bear the pain of losing Kurt. That dog was almost human...in fact he was more human than many people I've known..and as a child, he'd bound up to meet me, putting his strong paws right up on my shoulders, licking my face all over as I giggled and hugged him...

So thanks, Will, for dragging out that memory.

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: olddude
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 05:00 PM

Well isn't the original London bridge somewhere in Arizona or out west someplace ... go figure ... My fly fishing pole an Orvis, American company since 1850 or so, yup made in China. the way of the world anymore

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Will Fly
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 05:10 PM

Lizzie - did you ever get bought those thick Walls blocks of ice cream between two biscuit wafers? They used to make me feel sick - slightly flaky yellowish blocks of ice cold fat. Mr. Whippy was tolerable on a hot day - barely - but it wasn't until I started going to the corner milk bar - run by Macari or some similar Italian family - that I discovered proper ice cream.

It was 1956... I used to nick threepenny and sixpenny bits from my mum's purse, run up the road to the milk bar and play "Heartbreak Hotel" and "Rock Around The Clock" on the juke box until the money ran out.

Eh, lass... them were't days!

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 05:14 PM

Oh yes, Will!!

I used to have the Neopolitan icecream in the wafers, and I'd sit on the little slope in our back garden, licking each flavour seperately, first the strawberry, then the chocolate, then the vanilla last of all..and as the wafter got thinner I'd press it together, until the ice-cream oozed out of the sides, licking up each oozy bit with utter happiness.....then I'd munch the wafer last of all....

And after that, I'd usually lie down on that grassy slope, sticky mouthed, and make pictures out of the clouds in a summer blue sky...

Yes, very happy days! :0)

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 05:23 PM

Didn't he buy the wrong bridge, though, Dan? I've a feeling he thought he was buying London's Tower Bridge, but he got 'the other one'...Oops! :0)

Sad though, to see everything being lost...

The National Trust used to sell loads of things that were made in China, and that always wrankled with me, because you can't get more English than they are, and yet even they'd given in...

I wonder if Chinese things are made in China, or imported from other parts of this TopsyTurvy World we now live in... :0)


The ONLY person who should be allowed to buy Cadburys is Mr. Willy Wonka, because he's the only one who cares enough about keeping people happy...

Mmmmmm, chocolate lakes...

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 11:47 PM

Q - you are of course right about the handmade Belgian & Swiss &c chocalatiers' products being hard to beat. But one mass-produced choc to be highly recommended is Waitrose Continental Dark. I buy it a dozen bars at a time - they last fine in the fridge; but not for that long! If you haven't tried that one, give it a go; I swear you won't regret it. Even better than Cadbury's IMO — tho of course one never knows with this sort of generic labelling who the real manufaturers-under-licence are.

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Amergin
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 12:47 AM

Oh...and here I thought the polar chocolate caps were melting....

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Dave Roberts
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 01:54 AM

Lizzie,

Sadly the 'wrong London Bridge' story appears to be a myth.

According, that is, to 'QI' our new standard reference source for all such things.

Presented, of course, by Stephen Fry, another great name in the world of British chocolate.

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 04:40 AM

Stephen Fry ROCKS, Dave...and QI is the BEST programme on the telly! :0)


This is where Alan takes the show over....

QI - Youtube, for those who've not yet discovered it...

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Dave Roberts
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 05:22 AM

Lizzie,

You're right, of course.

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 05:55 AM

Ruth - Yes, it is wonderful. My daughters friend used to work at the Hotel Chocolat store in Manchester. We never visited her as often:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Bill D
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 03:48 PM

Story evolves... now Hershey is getting into the bidding

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 05:19 PM

The evolution of bidding, and the hemming and hawing, has been pretty well covered by BBC Business News. An interesting story.

Next offer from Frito-Lay- Tostitos?

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Rowan
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 05:57 PM

Whilst I don't approve of 'British Institutions' being sold to 'Johnny Foreigner' it is, as you say Lizzie, the way of the world.

And it's not as though Cadbury is innocent of such behaviour, either, if you remember what happened to various Australian iconic brands of confectionery made by MacRobertson's Chocolates

I'm a bit biassed, I know, because I spent 14 months at Mawson, in Mac Robertson Land. But you have my sympathies.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 14 Jan 10 - 06:45 AM

It'll be a catastrophe of Biblical proportions if Hershey take Cadbury's over and start trying to replace Cadbury's chocolate with their own shitty stuff - absolutely inedible, only fit for the garbage.

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 14 Jan 10 - 07:05 AM

I've just sent this thread to them..because you never know.......

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 14 Jan 10 - 08:56 AM

Surprisingly, given that I love real chocolate, I quite like Hersheys as well. Like I said before it is all a matter of taste. A lot of pop, jazz and opera is not to my taste but I would not deem them only fit for the garbage.

DeG

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 14 Jan 10 - 10:28 AM

You must have the constitution of an ox, Dave!

First time I went to the States, I slipped across the road from the hotel into a shop to buy paracetamol, and I saw Hersheys chocolate bars. I thought, "Aha, bet these are good, and they're CHEAP! I'll have a few for nibbling on at night, and take a few home". I ate two pieces (the second one was just to confirm the conclusion I drew from eating the first). The rest went in the bin.

Now, if it was a Belgian chocolatier that was taking Cadbury's over................mmmmmmmmmm!!

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 14 Jan 10 - 10:32 AM

Just surprisingly broad tastes, backwoodsman:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Michael
Date: 14 Jan 10 - 10:59 AM

Personaly, Rowan, I'm all for local 'stuff' staying local. I don't see any advantage to the world in multi-national brands, I like to travel to 'foreign parts' and discover new tastes.

Cheers
Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 14 Jan 10 - 11:10 AM

LOL Dave! Say no more!

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 14 Jan 10 - 02:04 PM

Business News on BBC last night- Hershey's is said to be preparing a bid, but most analysts don't think it is viable.
In order to raise the moola, they would have to sell some interests, including those that they have in Nestle licenses.

For cheap store chocolates my preferences in order are Lindt, Hershey and Cadbury.
But our local Belgian chocolatier is my favorite.

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Rowan
Date: 14 Jan 10 - 05:14 PM

Personaly, Rowan, I'm all for local 'stuff' staying local. I don't see any advantage to the world in multi-national brands, I like to travel to 'foreign parts' and discover new tastes.

Ditto, Mike, but the Oz market is smaller than most of those in the northern hemisphere and many of our iconic brands have been swallowed up by overseas companies that have had their capital generated/augmented by access to much larger markets.

CHeers, Rowan

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 14 Jan 10 - 06:04 PM

Cadbury's was once a marvellously run Quaker family business with high regard for employees. Then it went public.

Well, I have boycotted Kraft for years due to its corporate practices so...

And I am a chocaholic - but discriminating. ONLY DARK will do.

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Gurney
Date: 14 Jan 10 - 08:49 PM

Might I recommend a download from Marcus Turner, 'The Chocolate Song' to you chocoholics? Better yet, buy his CD.

The debacle referred to by Guest at 11:51 up there: Cadbury cut back on the cocoa and substituted palm oil, which made a softer and different-tasting product, and they also reduced the block size slightly. It made the national news! Then the 'greenies' got involved, because palm oil plantations are a blight on the face of the Earth, it seems.
Cadbury responded immediately and put things back the way they were.

I don't think NZ gets our chocolate from Brummegem directly. I think we get it from a subsidiary in Oz. It may have been a test case. If so, they were found guilty.

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 14 Jan 10 - 09:23 PM

Being diabetic nowadays, I eat only high-cocoa-content chocolate so Cadbury's Dairy Milk (preferably the 'Whole Nut' variety) is out. I eat Green & Black's 85% Cocoa chocolate now - very dark and bitter, a real acquired taste and very, very more-ish once you've acquired it. Yum!

But I'd defend good old Cadbury's Dairy Milk, the comfort-food of my youth, to the death! :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: GUEST,Lizzie Cornish
Date: 19 Jan 10 - 02:57 AM

They're selling out....to Kraft.

It's on the news this morning, as Kraft upped their offer...


Ironically, I received this email from them, just yesterday..

>>>Thank you very much for your e-mail, we do appreciate you taking the trouble to contact us.

We have passed your comments on to the relevant department and we would like to thank you for your interest in our business.

Kind regards
Charlie
Cadbury Consumer Relations Department<<<




Sorry, Charlie, but it seems that Mr. Wonka has sold your Chocolate Factory after all...and another part of England slips into the Atlantic Ocean to drift far, far away........

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Rasener
Date: 19 Jan 10 - 03:09 AM

Sounds like Cadburys are well and truly in the Salad Cream

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: GUEST,Lizzie Cornish
Date: 19 Jan 10 - 03:13 AM

And...they're selling Charlie's factory for £11 BILLION pounds, (!!!!!!!) although that could rise, as Hershey's are apparently still considering a higher bid, despite the news that Cadbury's have accepted the Kraft bid. I guess it's still not signed and sealed..

It's all gross.

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Rumncoke
Date: 19 Jan 10 - 08:00 AM

Last night (did I ever mention my family's females are a bit fey?) I ate a farewell bar of Cadbury's whole nut.

I can't see Kraft keeping the products as they are.

Anne Croucher

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Mr Happy
Date: 19 Jan 10 - 08:22 AM

...........so we can expect new products, such as 'Cheesychox', 'Cheese Buttons', chocolate slices for sandwiches, etc??

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Dave Roberts
Date: 19 Jan 10 - 03:03 PM

I'm diabetic, so can't fully appreciate the full glory of the Cadbury range.
But I do like the occasional piece of Bournville dark chocolate.
Even the traditional red wrapper is a British icon.
Surely no company in its right mind would even consider taking it off the market?

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 19 Jan 10 - 03:24 PM

The Cadbury CEO announced today that job losses as a result of the merger are "inevitable."
These will be office, sales, advertising losses rather than those involved in making the products.

Kraft has kept certain products of absorbed companies, without change. These include Oreos, various crackers and cookies, etc.

Phillip Morris (now Altria) started as an English tobacco company, but sold out to American investors. Holdings included Kraft (bought in 1988), Miller Breweries, General Foods, coffee companies, Nabisco, etc.

In 2007, Altria spun off Kraft Foods and no longer holds an interest. (Altria also spun off Phillip Morris International, now headed in Switzerland).
Altria took control of Ste. Michelle wines, which controls many American, European and other wineries.

South African Breweries acquired Miller-Coors in 2002, Molson Coors now owns 42%.
Complicated!.

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 20 Jan 10 - 02:45 PM

As I have boycotted Kraft for about 40 years, due to rotten corporate behavior, I doubt I shall have any more cadbury choc. But it does get harder to ascertain what products one needs to boycott. One has to read the small print. I have also not forgiven Nestle for first giving and then selling milk formula in Africa, creating a situation akin to genocide as mothers chose diluted formula over breast milk. But as these mega companies buy out more and more smaller ones, it does not leave many inexpensive choices. There is surely a website that tells us who owns what products.

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 20 Jan 10 - 11:11 PM

We're all doomed. DOOMED, I tell ye................

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: GUEST,rasenlad
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 01:57 PM

Naair then backwoodsmaatie

choclet haint na gud for ya maate, yud be be'ur off chowslin an owd onion or summats wa'll buck ya up a bit like suppin sum Baatemans from Waainfleet waay. I henjoyed puzzlin me braains ower your linkisheer folk speech in one o them theer hemails what ya scratted down som time back - it's about time folks staarted to larn them frimfolk ow to talk proper. Ya sound a rum un that's for sartin shooer.
see ya around.
Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 02:08 PM

Just made chocolate biscotti using the excellent Baker's 70% Chocolate, grating their bakers' squares to get sufficient for the recipe.

Baker's is one of the companies taken over by Kraft, the name and bulk chocolate products continued and, in the case of the 70%, augmented in recent years.

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: JHW
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 04:48 PM

Is not Cadbury's actual chocolate made by Barry Callebaut? Sure I heard that on the radio last year?
I look forward to six Bournville triangles in round box

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 05:07 PM

Barry Callebaut does provide bulk chocolate to several chocolatiers and candy companies, a highly engineered product ("very special process").
Cadbury does not indicate any particular source for their raw or bulk cocoa or chocolate; they probably import most of their cacao direct.

OCG is a big supplier (French), there are many others.

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 22 Jan 10 - 05:12 AM

'Ay up, Raasenlad, nowt up wi' yon choclet so long as she'z gorra looad o' cocoa in 'er, an' bugger-all sugar. It's that theer Waianfleeat stuff as I can't hev na moor, moor's the pity! It's a raight good brew that! :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Mr Happy
Date: 22 Jan 10 - 06:19 AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Callebaut

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Mo the caller
Date: 22 Jan 10 - 06:37 AM

Dairy Milk is now made from Fairtrade chocolate. Since I'm not one of those conossieurs who only likes bitter chocolate, but one of the 'general public' who prefers Dairy Milk, I was glad that I could still have a treat with a clear conscience.
Lets hope it stays that way.

It is amazing the way the big (UK) supermarkets have changed over to Fartrade / Organic /free-range products in the last few years.

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 22 Jan 10 - 01:53 PM

Dairy Milk in UK contains vegetable fat in part instead of 100% cocoa butter.
THe US and Canadian Dairy Milk is made by Hershey and retains 100% cocoa butter as an ingredient.

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: mousethief
Date: 22 Jan 10 - 06:32 PM

White chocolate has more chocolate mass than Dairy Milk.

O..O
=o=

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 22 Jan 10 - 08:29 PM

'White chocolate' was invented by Nestle to utilize excess cocoa butter. It also contains milk solids and sugar, but lacks cocoa solids.

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: mousethief
Date: 22 Jan 10 - 08:40 PM

Yes, hence what I said: "chocolate mass" not "cocoa mass". I know white chocolate has no cocoa. That's why it's so ..... white.

O..O
=o=

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: melodeonboy
Date: 25 Jan 10 - 10:09 AM

Dairy Milk may be made with Fairtrade chocolate, but Cadbury's don't really put all that much chocolate (or cocoa, to be more accurate) in their stuff, do they? To the best of my knowledge, it's padded out with palm oil (and there are environmental concerns about that!), which explains the slimy texture, and excess sugar, which explains the sickliness.

Much as I would hate to see jobs lost, and much as I respect the progressive social attitudes of the owners of Cadbury's in the past, the age of Cadbury's being a quality chocolate maker is long gone. These days, Cadbury's success is based on good business practice, a famous brand name, astute marketing and extensive advertising; not on quality!

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 25 Jan 10 - 02:20 PM

"Chocolate mass" is produced when the nibs (cacao, shells removed) are crushed into a paste, the chocolate liquor, or chocolate mass.

The cocoa butter is just part of the 'mass', c. 50-55%. The cocoa solids are removed to get pure cocoa butter.

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 25 Jan 10 - 02:46 PM

No more Cadbury's Flake adverts then Boys... :0(

Come on, who used to dream about the Cadbury's Flake Girl, then? :0)

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 25 Jan 10 - 03:47 PM

Who, that flake?

(Sorry, don't have it over here.)

Looked at the Cadbury web site and they say "The actual process for making the unique flake form is a closely guarded secret which no other chocolate manufacturer has replicated."

So eat it at your own risk, no one knows what is in it.!

Subject: RE: BS: Cadburys Chocolate Is Melting.......
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 25 Jan 10 - 04:17 PM

The real pity is that unlike other Quaker started businesses, like the highly successful John Lewis, Cadburys wasn't developed into a co-operative enterprise, with the employees running it. Or at the very least with a sizeable proportion of the shares.

The other thing that could serve to protect perfectly viable firms from predatory takeovers would be to restrict voting rights on stuff like this to those holding shares they had owned for some reasonable time, such as three years, to keep out the hedge funds and gamblers out for a short-term killing.