LONDON – Chocolate giant Cadbury expressed disappointment after losing its royal warrant for the first time in 170 years. The decision came as part of King Charles III’s inaugural review of the prestigious list of royal warrant holders since ascending the throne in 2022.
The royal warrant, originally granted to Cadbury by Queen Victoria in 1854, allowed the brand to display the Royal Arms on its products, symbolizing its status as a supplier to the royal household. The warrant is widely regarded as a mark of quality, influencing consumer preferences.
The campaign group B4Ukraine had earlier urged King Charles to revoke royal warrants from companies operating in Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. Mondelez International, Cadbury’s parent company, was among the firms criticized for maintaining business ties with Russia. Other companies like Bacardi and Nestle managed to retain their warrants, while Unilever and around 100 others were removed from the updated list.
Cadbury, long celebrated as part of British heritage, acknowledged the decision. A Mondelez spokesperson stated:
“While we are disappointed to be one of the businesses not awarded a new warrant, we respect the decision and remain proud to have previously held the honor.”
Buckingham Palace refrained from commenting on individual decisions, maintaining its policy of confidentiality regarding royal endorsements.