Cadbury Nigeria Plc, a subsidiary of Mondelēz International, has marked 60 years of operation in the country.
The company, which was incorporated on January 9, 1965, has grown from a humble beginning to become a leading player in the Nigerian food and beverage industry.
According to a statement issued by the company, Cadbury Nigeria has evolved from repackaging imported bulk products to a full manufacturing operation, meeting the growing local demand.
The company became a publicly listed entity on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in 1976.
Commenting on this milestone, the Chairman of Cadbury Nigeria, Adedotun Sulaiman, expressed his pride in the company’s achievements over the last six decades.
“We are proud of our achievements in the last six decades. We know the journey has often been turbulent, but we will continue to demonstrate the resilience that we are known for and keep offering value to our shareholders,” he said.
Sulaiman also thanked the company’s employees, past and present, for their contributions to making Cadbury Nigeria a household name in Nigeria.
He also appreciated the company’s suppliers, business partners, shareholders, and other stakeholders for their loyalty and support.
Oyeyimika Adeboye, the Managing Director of Cadbury Nigeria, said that despite operating in a challenging economic environment, the company remains committed to delivering value for its stakeholders.
“We understand what is required to operate in a volatile market like ours. We are agile, innovative, resilient, and extremely focused on operational excellence,” she said.
Adeboye added that the company will continue to nourish and delight its consumers with the right snacks and provide value for its shareholders and other stakeholders.
“We will continue to focus on the well-being of our employees, who remain our valuable assets. We are excited about the future and the opportunity to grow our portfolio of brands,” she said.
Cadbury Nigeria has been recognized as a ‘Top Employer in Nigeria’ by the Amsterdam-based Top Employers Institute.
The company is also listed among the ‘Top 100 Companies in Nigeria’ and ‘100 Best Companies to Work for in Nigeria.’
The company operates in three product categories: cocoa beverage, gum, and candy. Its flagship brand, Cadbury Bournvita, was introduced in 1960 and became the first cocoa beverage to be locally manufactured in 1965.
The company has also launched other products, including TomTom Classic candy, Cadbury Hot Chocolate 3 in 1 drink, and Clorets chewing gum.
Cadbury Nigeria has a cocoa-processing factory located in Ondo Town, Ondo State, Nigeria. The factory provides the cocoa powder required for manufacturing Cadbury Bournvita and processes cocoa beans into several high-quality cocoa by-products for local and export markets.
The company has been involved in various corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, including the Nutrition and Healthy Lifestyle Project, which was executed from 2018 to 2021.
The project, which cost $1 million, benefited over 6,000 pupils in public primary schools in Lagos State.
As part of its backward integration initiatives, Cadbury Nigeria launched Cocoa Life, the company’s global cocoa sustainability program, in Nigeria in July 2022. The program, which covers six states in the country, has empowered thousands of farmers.
Mondelēz International has a majority equity interest of 79.39 percent in Cadbury Nigeria through its holding in Cadbury Schweppes Overseas Limited.
The remaining 20.61 percent equity ownership is held by a diverse group of Nigerian individuals and institutional shareholders.
Frederick Mordi, the Head of Corporate Communications and Government Affairs at Cadbury Nigeria, issued the statement on behalf of the company.
Cadbury Nigeria’s 60th-anniversary celebration is a testament to the company’s commitment to delivering value to its stakeholders and its contribution to the growth and development of the Nigerian economy.
As the company looks to the future, it is poised to continue playing a leading role in the Nigerian food and beverage industry.
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