Today we have heard the inevitable takeover of Cadburys by the huge US giant Kraft - sparking off jokes about the fusion of chocolate & cheese!
So sitting a few miles from where the Cadburys seeds were first sown, I take this opportunity to look at the early years of Cadburys. How this enterprise initially grew from humble beginnings into a global phenomena worth 11 billion dollars and we can learn both spiritually and materially from John Cadbury's vision.....
John Cadbury began his small stall in Birmingham in 1824 not as a
confectionery shop but selling tea and coffee and drinking chocolate. He was experimental with his designs leading to the innovative recipes and styles of chocolate that we enjoy today. He made it less addictive thereby more popular and accepted and used a skillful marketing campaign to get the word out. For example the famous Bournville chocolate, he used the French word 'ville' to bring a Swiss/French slant to his brand making it more appealing and luxurious. His hard work and innovation paid off in 1854 when he received a Royal Warrant as manufacturers of
chocolate for Queen Victoria.
He had a strong philanthropic drive which was one of the reasons he was so successful as an entrepreneur.
He was aware of the destructive dangers of alcohol so he created hot drinks as an alternative. As a pacifist and a non conformist he strongly believed in social reform and was greatly influential in stopping the use of chimney sweeps. He also set up 'Animal Rights' which would later inspire the RSPCA
He passed his business to his sons who worked for long hours with little reward with just sheer determination and perseverance kept them going. However using new
recipes and experimentation created innovative new products that
ensured their success.
George Cadbury inherited the same kindness and looked after his workers health, education, training and pensions. Creating a strong, healthy and committed workforce, these actions were far ahead of his time - he treated his workers as part of a family and gave them recognition when it was due.
Jumping ahead to the modern day, we can hope that this takeover will highlight the great work that was accomplished in the early days at Cadburys.
From a business and marketing point of view we can draw great inspiration and see that two of the most important qualities for success is innovation & kindness. Interestingly these two qualities both require space and time - which we seem to have less and less of. The 'no time', 'no space' culture.
If you have got this far in the article - congratulations you made the time to stop!
Meditation practice gives us time and space each day to reflect - this aids us in becoming kinder, we have more space in our heart and actually more time to give others. When the mind is still and peaceful then naturally it is more creative and open to new possibilities.
The world of spam - blanket advertising - just hoping for the best by marketing to everyone and meeting no one is a lazy approach which requires no space - just pushing. Its unattractive and doesn't work. Meditation practice helps to sharpen, focus and redefine our mind moment by moment so we realize the next moment can be an opening, a possibility, a space for change.
On this historic day marking the takeover of Cadburys it is good to reflect on the good work that was accomplished and how we can move forward....
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