More than a glass and a half: a history of Cadbury in Australia

Last Sunday the grandchildren had fun looking for Cadbury Easter eggs in our back garden. The family then shared a variety of other chocolates and sweets. It therefore seemed an appropriate time to read Robert Crawford's book, More than a glass and a half: a history of Cadbury in Australia.

The author looks at how the popularity of chocolate products grew in England, Australia and other countries throughout the world but the emphasis in this study is the Cadbury empire in England, Australia and New Zealand. The Cadbury chocolate factory was established in Birmingham, England, in 1824. In the 1860s and 1870s newspapers in Australia announced the arrival of shipments of Cadbury products from England. In the early 1880s Cadbury Brothers opened an office in Melbourne and gradually extra staff were sent to sell and promote the company products throughout the colonies. Other firms selling chocolate products were McKenzie's Cocoa Mills, Bates, and MacRobertson's Steam Confectionery Works.

Eventually it was decided to manufacture Cadbury chocolate in Australia and land at Claremont in Tasmania was chosen. The factory began operations in 1921. A small number of staff came out to Tasmania from England to train local staff. By the time the new factory opened, Cadbury had combined with two other confectionery companies to form Cadbury-Fry-Pascall. Products from the other two companies continued to be manufactured at Cadbury factories.

More than a glass and a half provides a study of how the new branch of the company was established on the other side of the world. This includes describing the philosophy of the Cadbury family who were Quakers and their attitude to providing suitable working and living conditions for their staff. As well as the factory, housing for some staff was provided as well as facilities for recreation including sport. 

Much of the book describes the promotion and advertising of the products as social and economic conditions varied and new media became available to promote products. The range of products varied throughout the years but the staple chocolate is still Cadbury dairy milk. 

There have been a number of mergers and take-overs over the years. Red Tulip chocolates came under the Cadbury banner in 1987. Twenty years earlier, MacRobertson's became part of Cadbury bringing popular products such as Freddo Frog and Cherry Ripe under the Cadbury banner. A Cadbury factory in Ringwood, Victoria, was established at this time. Cadbury had also been involved with other mergers and name changes over the years including being Cadbury Schweppes for a time. Then Kraft purchased the Cadbury company and the name of the section controlling Cadbury is Mondelez International. However the chocolate company still trades as Cadbury and that is all the lovers of chocolate need to know.

The book of full of coloured illustrations showing how Cadbury products have been promoted through the years. These may stir up memories of past enjoyment of Cadbury products. Notes and index are at the back of the book.

The Chocolate Factory

The English chocolate factory, Cadbury, opened its first overseas factory at Claremont, near Hobart. The factory was built on a 246 acre property on a peninsula where there was cheap hydroelectricity. The new factory was officially opened in October 1921. Sixteen women from the Cadbury factory at Bournville came to Australia to help train Australian women in the processes for making chocolate. Several years earlier the Cadbury factory had formed partnerships with Fry's and Pascals confectionery companies in the UK. The name of the firm was now Cadbury-Fry-Pascal.

Mary-Lou Stephens has written a historical fiction novel, The chocolate factory, about the early years of the establishment of the factory at Claremont. In the novel Dorothy Adwell, a war widow, travels to Tasmania from England to be a foreman in the new factory with the responsibility of ensuring that the enrober machines worked efficiently. Eventually staff will be housed in a village constructed on the Cadbury site, but initially Dorothy stays in a boarding house with other women from England who also work in the factory.

On the voyage to Australia Dot meets Thomas, a returned serviceman who is struggling with PTSD. Dot is aware of the condition as her husband, Freddie, also struggled with PTSD before he died. Dot recognises Thomas' symptoms and endeavours to help him.

Maisie Greenwood is the eldest daughter of a war widow who tries to support the family by taking in mending and ironing. She lives in Hobart, a half hour train ride from Claremont. When Maisie starts working at the Cadbury factory she hopes to be able to earn enough money to support her mother and keep her sister, Lily, at school.

The novel follows the lives of the women as they adjust to their new roles at the Cadbury factory. However it is soon apparent that there are attempts to sabotage the success of the new enterprise.

The author covers many historical themes in this novel including the workings of the chocolate factory, the philosophy of the factory owners who are Quakers, the effects of war on ex-servicemen as well as on war-widows and their families, working conditions for women in the 1920s, as well as themes of friendship, trust, industrial espionage. It is an interesting book to read, especially when dealing with the lives of the women working at the new factory however I felt that the author was attempting to include too many themes in the book which, although interesting, sometimes meandered from the main story and distracted from the flow of the main story. I did finish reading the novel but at one stage I was tempted to look for something else to read.

The Lollipop Shoes

Another tale of chocolate and magic by Joanne Harris. The action of the first book in this series, Chocolat, was set during Lent leading to Easter. In this book the story takes place between Halloween and Christmas.

It is more than four years since we left Vianne Rocher and her daughter, Anouk, at the village of  Lansquenet-sous-Tannes where Vianne had a chocolate shop. They have now moved to Paris where Vianne (now using the name Yanne) has established another chocolaterie at Montmartre. Living with them is Rosette, Vianne's younger daughter who is about to turn four. Vianne has decided to leave the world of magic and witchcraft behind as she attempts to fit in and lead an 'ordinary' life. However this is proving to be difficult as her two daughters have 'accidents, proving that they too have magical abilities.

The lollipop shoes refers to shoes favoured by Zozie de l 'Alba, a major character in this book. Zozie, a collector of identities, decides to befriend Vianne and her young family when she realises that the powers that Vianne is obviously trying to hide may be useful to her. Vianne initially appreciates Zozie's assistance and ideas as she tries to establish her chocolate business but she soon realises that something sinister is about to occur. Vianne is particularly concerned about the relationship developing between Zozie and Anouk.

Three people tell this story - Vianne (Yanne), Anouk (Annie) and Zozie. It is very much a tale of relationships. It is also a tale of the use (or non use) of magic for good or evil. As in Chocolat the reader meets a variety of characters from the local community who frequent the shop. As well as protecting her family from Zozie, Vianne must also decide what lifestyle she really wants to live and who she wants to live it with.

The Lollipop Shoes, a darker tale than the first book, Chocolat, with a greater emphasis on the use of magic, folklore and fable, is a compelling continuation of the story of Vianne and her family.

This book was published in the United States under the title - The girl with no shadow.

Joanne Harris - The Lollipop Shoes.

The little book of chocolat

This cookery book by Joanne Harris and Fran Warde contains 50 recipes celebrating chocolate.

In 1999 Joanne Harris published Chocolat, a book about Vianne Rocher and her chocolate shop and cafe in a French village. Since then Joanne Harris has written three sequels to the original novel. It is not possible to read Chocolat without feeling the need to consume an excellent piece of chocolate, a piece of rich chocolate cake or drink a delicious cup of rich hot chocolate. This book, published in 2014 supplies a collection of recipes based on chocolate, including some of the delicacies featured in the book. A must read for any chocoholic.

Chocolat

The novel, Chocolat, by Joanne Harris was first published in 1999 and made an immediate impact as a book and then a film. I read it many years ago but decided to reread it, especially as the fourth book in the series has recently been published.

Vianne Rocher and her six year old daughter, Anouk, arrive in the French village of Lansquenet-sous-Tannes during a carnival and decide that this is the place that they should stay. They move into a shop that was a former bakery and re-establish the premises as a choclolate shop/cafe La Celeste Praline Choclaterie Artisanale. Vianne, Anouk and Pantoufle (Anouk's imaginery friend) settle into rooms at the back of the shop.

The redecorated shop with its display of exquisite delights is set to entice the locals but not everyone in this small village welcomes the strangers.

The shop is located across the square from the church and Monsieur Le Cure, Francis Reynaud the priest, totally dispproves of the new arrivals especially as Vianne opens her shop at the beginning of Lent. However many of the locals, particularly Guillaume with his dog, Narcisse and Armande Voizin welcome Vianne and Anouk. It is when Vianne and her friends prepare for a Chocolate Festival to begin on Easter Sunday that divisions with in the village become threatening. The village's dislike of strangers is further demonstrated by the reaction to the arrival of gypsies who moor their barges along the river bank.

The story is told by Vianne and by Francis Reynaud whose chapters gradually reveal the possible reasons for his behaviour. We also learn that Armande knows many of the priest's secrets.

I really enjoyed reading this book and re-entering the world centering around Vianne's chocolate shop. I suspect, however, that it  may not be possible to read this book without having a cup of good hot chocolate or a selection of scrumptious chocolates to sustain you.

MacRobertsonland

When working at the Royal Historical Society of Victoria, several years ago, I was able to work with the Macpherson Robertson collection - a collection of images, scrapbooks ephemera and artefacts relating to Robertson, his chocolate making business and his other interests. I found him a fascinating person so have enjoyed reading books by Jill Robertson written about this important Australian businessman.

The Chocolate King was published in 2004 and is a detailed account of the life and work of Macpherson Robertson. In 2010 Arcade Publications produced a shorter account of the life of this entrepreneur, also written by Jill Robertson. This small well illustrated book captures the spirit of the man, his drive and achievements and provides a great introduction to a person who contributed so much to Melbourne, particularly providing  donations for the building of MacRobertson Bridge and MacRobertson Girls' High School. Robertson was a great promoter of his products and the book contains images and quotes from some of the advertising material. It also covers Robertson's passion for advances in transport including cycling, motor vehicles and aeroplanes. Robertson also provided funds for Mawson's expedition to Antarctica in 1929 - MacRobertson Land being named in his honour. It must be said that he was also an expert at self-promotion. MacRobertsonland, as well as telling the story of this larger than life figure provides a social history of Victoria in the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century. After reading MacRobertsonland many readers might then like to read the more detailed The Chocolate King.