Cadbury Dairy Milk production return to the UK offers highlight amid wider sector tests

For British-based followers of the confectionery world, the breaking news that Cadbury would be bringing back production to the UK was indeed something to be celebrated.

The iconic brand, produced by parent company Mondelez International made the decision to consolidate the manufacture of its highly prized chocolate brand at its Bournville, Birmingham, England, where it was first unveiled way back in 1905.

For many years, Dairy Milk production had been transferred to mainland Europe, but the company’s latest move involves an investment of £15 million in new manufacturing systems for its British operations that has formed a total of £80 million placed into supporting UK production over the past seven years.

It also coincides with the brand gaining a major packaging design overhaul, for the first time in five decades, which has also gained media headlines around the world.

The key investment being made in the UK is especially welcome in the context of the continuing major challenges the sector faces on a wider level, arising from both the coronavirus and completion of Brexit, that have impacted on logistics chains, and import and export of goods.

As Confectionery Production has reported, confectionery businesses have raised notable concerns over the complex new rules of origin that now govern trade between the UK and the EU, and major brands such as Cadbury and its parent company, are not immune from the delays caused between accessing locations across the Channel.

Despite such challenges, Food and Drink firms within the manufacturing sector have demonstrated commendable resilience over the past year in continuing as essential industries. Their collective resolve has been put to the test, so it’s encouraging to hear a tale of investment being made such as with Cadbury, which in truth, seems a rare highlight amid a system under considerable strain.

The UK government has said that post Brexit trading difficulties are merely ‘teething problems’ which can quickly be overcome, but from the array of newspaper headlines emerging over the past few weeks from dismayed businesses bogged down in confusing additional paper work and having to contend with additional taxes and transport costs for trading with European firms, the situation is particularly concerning.

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