James Cadbury, the great-great-great grandson of the founder of the iconic Cadbury chocolate empire, has sold his premium confectionery brands Love Cocoa and Hip Chocolate, marking the end of more than two centuries of his family’s involvement in the trade.
The 40-year-old entrepreneur has sold the loss-making businesses to confectionery group Made Uncommon, founded by entrepreneur Calum Haggerty, for an undisclosed sum.
Cadbury, who launched Love Cocoa in 2016 with a focus on sustainable, ethical chocolate, did not give reasons for the sale but hinted at tough trading conditions.
In a social media post, he noted that Haggerty’s previous career as a fireman “might have helped in the last few years with cocoa prices going through the roof.”
“It has been my life for the last decade, full of highs, challenges, and huge learnings. I’m deeply grateful to everyone who has been part of the journey.
"I wish the best for Calum Haggerty at Love Cocoa. He is an amazing entrepreneur from starting his career as a fireman; it probably came in quite handy over the last two years with the cocoa prices going through the roof!
"He built an incredible factory in Edinburgh, and I am sure he will take the brands to the next level."
James will now be focusing on his next business ventures namely Holte, a wellness brand, and Kind Bag, a sustainable accessories brand that is stocked by leading retailers such as Liberty and John Lewis.
James has said previously that as far as he knew he was the only member of the famous family to be trading in chocolate.
John Cadbury, the founder of the Cadbury chocolate empire, set up his first shop selling cocoa and hot chocolate at 93 Bull Street, Birmingham, in 1824. Cadbury was sold to the American food group Kraft for £12 billion in 2010.