CHOC SHOCKER! Dairy Milk lovers dismayed as Cadbury bosses switch production to Poland

Cadbury’s US owner, the confectionary giant Mondelez, is breaking a key promise by making an increasing amount of its iconic Dairy Milk chocolate bars in eastern Europe rather than at its traditional British base.

The company, which was created by Kraft, has switched production of its large 300g bars of Dairy Milk and some of the classic 95g bars to its expanded factories in Wroclaw.

Dairy Milk’s status as a British icon was cemented in 2007 with the classic “Gorilla Ad”.

And the move breaks a pledge to continue to make the sweets at its historic Bournville home in Birmingham.

The promise was made after Kraft’s bitter takeover of Cadbury seven years ago caused an outcry among sweet-toothed Brits who feared for the future of their favourites chocs.

Mondelez said production in Poland of its 95g bars was a ‘temporary move’ because Bournville had been busy in the run-up to Christmas and insisted it was once again being manufactured in the UK.

But many traditionalists claim it is another sign that the link between Britain’s biggest chocolate brand and its old Quaker headquarters near Birmingham is being weakened.

James Cadbury, a member of the founding family, who now runs his own chocolate company, Love Cocoa, told the Mail On Sunday: “I’m very disappointed. Bournville and Dairy Milk are synonymous.”

Within weeks of Kraft’s £11.5 billion takeover of Cadbury in 2010, it closed a factory in Somerdale, near Bristol, putting 400 people out of work.

James Cadbury, a member of the founding family, who now runs his own chocolate company, Love Cocoa, told the Mail On Sunday: “I’m very disappointed. Bournville and Dairy Milk are synonymous.”

Within weeks of Kraft’s £11.5 billion takeover of Cadbury in 2010, it closed a factory in Somerdale, near Bristol, putting 400 people out of work.