Extra 125 million Cadbury Dairy Milk sharing bars produced in Bournville each year

Mondelēz International - makers and bakers of iconic brands including Cadbury, OREO and Maynards Bassetts - has launched its latest economic and social report.

The report details the UK business’ economic contribution totalling £933 million in overall Gross Economic Value Added (GVA) to the UK economy.

Three of the company’s nine UK sites are situated in the West Midlands creating 2,804 jobs directly, including Bournville Manufacturing, Marlbrook Milk Processing Facility and Minworth Distribution Centre.

Through direct, indirect and induced GVA, the West Midlands accounted for almost half (over £438.5 million), of the business’ total contribution to the UK economy last year, according to the report.

The report also states that, forming part of the wider Mondelēz International supply chain, a further 1,320 jobs across the West Midlands are indirectly supported through supply chain procurement - including both Minworth Distribution (part of The Culina Group) and Marlbrook Milk Process Facility which processes 500,000 litres of fresh milk every day, 365 days a year.

How much chocolate is made at Cadbury in Bournville?

Following a £15 million investment in Bournville in 2021 to expand chocolate making capacity, the site can now produce up to an additional 125 million large sharing bars of Cadbury Dairy Milk annually.

Currently 5.5 million blocks of chocolate, 400 million chocolate buttons and 1 million Wispa bars are produced every day.

How many people does Mondelēz International employ at Bournville and across the West Midlands?

Since 2017, Mondelēz International said it has utilised the UK Apprenticeship Levy to create new pathways into the business, totalling an investment of £2.5 million.

To date the business has employed 75 Apprentices at Bournville and Marlbrook, which the company says is creating pathways into the business for the next generation of talent across the Midlands.

Mondelēz UK also employs over 600 food scientists, technologists and chemists across its two Research and Development sites in Reading and Bournville (the company’s Global Centre of Excellence for chocolate R&D).

It says this makes it one of the largest food R&D groups in the UK. A spokesperson explained: “To this day, every single chocolate product that Mondelēz International produces across 150 countries, starts its life at Bournville.”

What about reduced sugar chocolate bars?

The company is championing rising star, Kate Rose, a Bournville based R&D Apprentice who is the first person in the UK to graduate at Level 3 standard of the Food Technologist Apprenticeship and contributed to the development of Cadbury Dairy Milk, 30% Reduced Sugar following her investigation into natural alternatives to sugar.

Does the Mondelēz UK support any other health boosts?

The company is championing its ‘Health for Life programme’, which it launched in 2011 to engage both children and adults in physical activity, healthy eating awareness, growing food, and cookery. It is funded through The Cadbury Foundation, which invests in schools and local communities across Birmingham.

A company spokesperson said: “To date, Mondelēz UK has invested £4.5 million with delivery partners Services For Education and The Conservation Volunteers, enabling over 200 schools to invest in long-term resources for healthier lifestyle activities, directly benefitting 70,000 pupils and families.

“In addition, 17 community food growing spaces create activities for 6,000 local people whilst more than 1,200 employees have volunteered practical support to enhance the programme.

Roberto Gambaccini, Manufacturing Director, UK Chocolate, Mondelēz International, added: “As the heart and home of Cadbury, I’m hugely proud that our Midlands sites play such an integral role in the overall contribution of our UK business impact to our local communities and economy.”

What has West Midlands Mayor Andy Street said about Mondelēz investment in Bournville?

Andy Street, Mayor for West Midlands, said: “It’s good to see Mondelēz making this commitment given Cadbury’s Birmingham roots. By investing in Bournville, Mondelēz is creating job opportunities for local people, and I look forward to seeing the next generation of talent benefitting from the apprenticeship programme in the months and years ahead.”