Cadbury lost its royal warrant after 170 years after King Charles III decided not to renew the chocolatier’s endorsement. The decision marks the end of an era for Cadbury, which received its first royal warrant in 1854 under Queen Victoria and was reportedly a favorite of Queen Elizabeth II.
Unilever, another chocolatier affected by the decision, also lost its royal warrant. Buckingham Palace has not disclosed the reasons behind the changes, following standard royal protocol.
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Controversy over Mondelez’s operations
The move has fueled speculation, especially as Cadbury’s parent company, U.S.-based Mondelez International, faces backlash over its continued operations in Russia. Earlier this year, the campaign group B4Ukraine called for King Charles to strip Mondelez of its royal warrant.
The group criticized the company for continuing its Russian business amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. Unilever has faced similar scrutiny over its operations in the region.
What does losing a royal warrant mean?
Royal warrants are a mark of prestige awarded to companies that supply goods or services to the royal household. These warrants also allow brands to display the royal coat of arms on their packaging and branding, which enhances credibility and boosts consumer trust.
A spokesperson for Mondelez expressed disappointment over the loss but respected the decision. They told the BBC, “Whilst we are disappointed to be one of hundreds of other businesses and brands in the U.K. to not have a new warrant awarded, we are proud to have previously held one, and we fully respect the decision.”
Unilever echoed the sentiment, with a company representative saying, “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.”
Some chocolatiers stayed on the royal list. Bendicks and Prestat Limited retained their royal warrants, along with the renowned winery Moët & Chandon.
