Adrija Sen
Sep 16 2022
George Cadbury was born on 19 September 1839 in Birmingham, England. His father was John Cadbury, a tea and coffee merchant who made and sold cocoa and chocolate.
Image source: Alamy
In April 1861, at the young age of 21, George and his elder brother Richard took over their father’s failing business, the same company that would become famous as Cadbury one day.
Image source: Alamy
The same year, Cadbury decided to launch powdered starch-free cocoa and named it ‘Absolutely Pure - Therefore Best'. After a struggle for five years, this decision led the iconic brand to become what it is today.
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George Cadbury was not simply a businessman but also a social reformer. He is touted as a visionary when it comes to social development, especially the working conditions of his employees.
Image source: Alamy
When the business started generating profits, the two brothers decided to expand and bought 14 more acres of land. In 1879, the Cadbury brothers moved their operations from Birmingham town to a rural site.
Image source: Alamy
This site became Bournville under Cadbury’s guidance, where he introduced a private social security program, sick pay, pension, and many more social reforms that served as a model later.
Video source: Adobe
Video source: Adobe
He often worked as a teacher at the town’s adult school, was heavily involved in local governance and was a famous advocate for improving working and living conditions of the masses.
Video source: Adobe
Due to the philanthropic spirit of George Cadbury and successors of the Cadbury brothers, numerous charities are thriving to date. His leadership also led to Birmingham becoming the second highest-grossing city in the UK.
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In a famous quote, George Cadbury said “The love of family and admiration of friends is much more important than wealth and privilege.” Needless to say, his words and his vision continue to serve as inspiration for many even today.
Video source: Adobe