Cadbury Nigeria Plc, a subsidiary of Mondelēz International—one of the world’s leading snacking companies—has officially marked 60 years of business operations in the country. The Company, which was incorporated on 9 January 1965, has grown from a small repackaging outfit into a fully-fledged manufacturing giant and has been listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange since 1976.
Reflecting on the milestone, Chairman of the Board, Mr. Adedotun Sulaiman, noted that the company’s journey has been defined by resilience. “From our modest beginnings to becoming a household name, Cadbury Nigeria has shown determination through both challenges and triumphs. We remain committed to delivering long-term value to our shareholders while continuing to enrich the lives of Nigerians,” he said. He also expressed appreciation to employees, stakeholders, and the government for their continued support.
Managing Director, Mrs. Oyeyimika Adeboye, highlighted the company’s ability to adapt to a challenging business climate. “Operating in a volatile economy requires agility and innovation. As we celebrate our Diamond Jubilee, we remain focused on excellence, nourishing consumers with quality snacks, and building a future of sustained growth,” she said.
Over the decades, Cadbury Nigeria has built a strong product portfolio across three main categories—cocoa beverages, gum, and candy. Its flagship brand, Bournvita, introduced in 1960, became the first locally manufactured cocoa beverage in 1965. Other notable additions include Cadbury Hot Chocolate 3-in-1 (2014), TomTom Classic candy (1970), as well as TomTom FreshLime, Buttermint, Caramel, Coffee, and Clorets gum.
The Company also operates a cocoa-processing plant in Ondo State, which supplies cocoa powder for Bournvita and produces cocoa derivatives like cocoa butter and cocoa cake for both domestic and export markets, strengthening Nigeria’s non-oil exports.
Cadbury Nigeria is widely recognised for its workplace culture and corporate responsibility efforts. It has been named a Top Employer in Nigeria by the Amsterdam-based Top Employers Institute, and ranks among Nigeria’s Top 100 Companies and Best 100 Places to Work. Through initiatives such as its Nutrition and Healthy Lifestyle Project (2018–2021), executed with Helen Keller International, the Company invested $1 million in teaching over 6,000 Lagos pupils about nutrition, exercise, and gardening.
In 2022, Cadbury introduced Cocoa Life—Mondelēz International’s global cocoa sustainability programme—into Nigeria. The scheme now spans six states (Ekiti, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Oyo, and Cross River) and has empowered thousands of local cocoa farmers.
Currently, Mondelēz International holds a 79.39% equity interest in Cadbury Nigeria through Cadbury Schweppes Overseas Limited, while the remaining 20.61% is owned by Nigerian individual and institutional shareholders.
The 60th anniversary announcement was issued on behalf of the Company by Frederick Mordi, Head of Corporate Communications and Government Affairs.