For the first time in 170 years, Cadbury has been removed from the prestigious list of royal warrant holders. The Birmingham-based chocolatier, which first received the warrant as a supplier of chocolate and cocoa to Queen Victoria in 1854, has lost the royal endorsement under King Charles III.
Mondelez International, the US parent company of Cadbury, expressed disappointment over the decision. A spokesperson stated, “Whilst we are disappointed to be one of hundreds of other businesses and brands in the UK to not have a new warrant awarded, we are proud to have previously held one, and we fully respect the decision.”
Royal warrants, granted for up to five years, signify recognition for providing goods or services to the royal household. They also allow companies to display the associated royal coat of arms on their packaging and promotional materials.
King Charles has renewed the warrants for 386 companies that previously held them under Queen Elizabeth II, including John Lewis, Heinz, and Nestle. Notable additions to the King’s new list include firms such as Moet and Chandon, Weetabix, and chocolate makers Bendicks and Prestat Ltd.
Earlier this year, campaign group B4Ukraine called on the King to revoke royal endorsements from companies continuing operations in Russia following the invasion of Ukraine. Mondelez and Unilever, which also lost its warrant, were named in the campaign.
The decision could have financial implications for Cadbury, as it will need to update its packaging and branding to remove the royal seal. Prof David Bailey from Birmingham Business School noted that the royal warrant served as a “seal of approval” and could significantly benefit businesses, contributing to British jobs and production.
Cadbury, which celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2024, has a rich history dating back to its founding by John Cadbury in Birmingham in 1824. The brand gained global prominence under the management of John’s sons, who established the Bournville factory, once the largest cocoa manufacturing site worldwide. However, Cadbury’s British identity has faced scrutiny since its controversial acquisition by US food giant Kraft in 2010, later becoming part of Kraft’s Mondelez division in 2012.
