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.