Never want to see, smell or eat chocolate again!!!

We had a great time today at Cadbury World. Nothing to do with Mother's Day, just a coincidence as I booked it ages ago without realising what day it was. I ate far too much of the stuff, though!

We were curious to see how the takeover by Kraft had affected it but all seemed pretty normal. Except that to hire four £1 audio tour thingies we had to put a £1000 - yes, that's ONE THOUSAND POUNDS - deposit on our credit card. I know it wouldn't go through unless we did a runner with the things but it annoyed me so we made do with reading the signs on the way round.

Anyway, apart from that, I couldn't fault the place. We've been before but there seemed to be more this time - it was wonderful. There were lots of things to look at and do before the main tour and there was even a fantastic magician who did what was the funniest show I've ever seen.

The history of the company is fascinating. John Cadbury started selling chocolate-based products in his tea shop in Birmingham in 1824. He was later joined by his two sons who, by 1854, had made their chocolate so popular that they obtained a Royal Warrant from Queen Victoria. The most impressive things about the company, though, were the huge innovations they made in improving the working conditions of their employees. Coming from a strong Quaker tradition, the Cadbury family were increasingly shocked at the dire conditions workers endured while living in Birmingham. The city was dirty, polluted and there were virtually no green spaces for children to play in safely so they bought farmland just outside the city, built their factory there and created an entire new village - Bournville. This was probably the first 'garden city' and was almost certainly unheard of in business at the time. Everything was geared to improving the lives and the health of their people, with parks, schools, swimming pools and sports facilities included. They also reduced the working week and initiated a sickness benefit scheme. And it didn't stop 'at home', as the company made sure that their suppliers in West Africa also benefited from better conditions. Truly an inspirational story.