Cadburys Factory

A short history of production

By Linda Leach

The factory was opened in April, 1916.

During the month of April 1916, 40,000 gallons of milk was used in Milk Chocolate Crumb Production.

Plant capacity was increased and the amount of fresh milk used for production in 1930 rose to 6 million gallons or on average just over half a million gallons a month.By 1944 milk intake was up by approx 3 million gallons a year to just over 9 million gallons. Butter was also made during this year.

In 1964 the factory reached peak capacity and during the month of May a daily intake of 75,000 gallons was handled. 45,000 gallons of this was our own producers' milk and 30,000 surplus from other areas.

Since the introduction of the Bulk Milk Scheme in our area the Milk Marketing Board diverts about 18,000 gallons of bulk milk to the Liquid Milk Market in the London area, and our own intake is now reduced to about 33,000 gallons per day during the flush to 23,000 gallons during winter months.