Cadbury Loses Royal Warrant for the First Time in 170 Years

After 170 years, Cadbury chocolatier has lost its royal warrant.

Per the BBC, the Birmingham-based chocolate company was awarded its first royal warrant as a chocolate and cocoa manufacturer by Queen Victoria in 1854. King Charles has since stripped the candymaker of its royal endorsement.

The removal of Cadbury’s royal warrant comes after the king was reportedly encouraged by the campaign group B4Ukraine to take warrants from companies “still operating in Russia” after the invasion of Ukraine. B4Ukraine named Mondelez, which owns Cadbury, and Unilever, in its campaign.

Sky News reports that while Cadbury was stripped of its warrant, Bacardi and Samsung were also named in the B4Ukraine list and have not been stripped of their warrants. The news outlet claims the decision was, therefore, not necessarily linked to Russia’s invasion.

A Unilever spokesperson said, per Sky News: “We are very proud of the long history our brands have supplying the royal household and of the warrants they have been awarded during this time, most recently by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The granting of royal warrants is a matter for the royal household.”

What Is a Royal Warrant?

Cadbury loses royal warrant under King Charles https://t.co/YQfigHeLCZ

— ST Foreign Desk (@STForeignDesk) December 23, 2024

Per the official royal website, a Royal Warrant of Appointment is granted as a mark of recognition to people or companies who have regularly supplied goods or services to the royal household. The grant of a royal warrant gives a warrant holder nothing more than a right to display the Royal Arms, and they are not entitled to claim or imply any exclusivity of supply.

The Royal Household Warrants Committee reviews all royal warrants during the year prior to their expiration.

“Warrants may not be renewed if the quality or supply for the product or service is insufficient, as far as the relevant Royal Household is concerned. A Warrant may be canceled at any time and is automatically reviewed if the Grantee dies or leaves the business, or if the firm goes bankrupt or is sold,” the royal website explains.

Buckingham Palace has not officially stated why King Charles has removed Cadbury’s royal warrant.