The Cadburys Story
Recently there has been a lot of news in the media about the impending take over of Cadburys by Kraft. It really is amazing to think that a business that started life as a corner shop 200 years ago is now valued at a staggering £11.7bn.
When Richard Cadbury became involved in the business he is quoted as saying he 'would be surprised if the business made £1,000 in a year he would be happy.' It would be interesting to hear what he would say now! Managing the budgets and the profit and loss of the company was clearly something the business took seriously.
As far back as in 1911 there was a dual recognition of the need for the company to act in an ethical manner and awareness off its social and corporate responsibility. That is the company refused to source coco from countries associated with slavery. Likewise the company recognised the need to give to the local community through the building of homes and provision of social amenities.
The concept of sales and marketing is not new. As far back as 1868 chocolate boxes were being decorated by hand to make them more appealing to the public. In 1905 the first Cadburys logo was commissioned in order to distinguish the product from its competitors.
Using The Story of Cadburys certainly gives encouragement to small business owner as well as vital nuggets of information about how to grow and develop a small business. Who knows one day your small business could one day be sold for.
