It follows a decision by Hershey Co, to file lawsuits against British importers, LBB Imports LLC (Let's Buy British) and Posh Nosh imports. The food giant is accusing the companies of infringing multiple trademarks.
#BoycottHershey: More than 17,000 Cadbury fans sign petition against Hershey http://t.co/AnpmHDQf1C
— Joseph Alex Martin (@jam237) January 28, 2015
North America's largest confectioner Hershey's told the New York Times that: "It is important for Hershey to protect its trademark rights and to prevent consumers from being confused or misled when they see a product name or product package that is confusingly similar to a Hershey name or trade dress".
The quest to buy Cadbury's chocolate abroad is usually made by people wanting a taste of home to trigger childhood memories, especially if they're from Birmingham in the UK.
No more Cadbury's in the US? I Certainly won't be eating the garbage @hersheys tries to pass off as the real deal. #boycotthersheys
— Alex Tobin (@TobinWords) January 28, 2015
The Cadbury legacy began in Birmingham in 1824, by John Cadbury and his brother Benjamin, whose two sons went on to develop the Bournville estate. A village was designed and built for the factory workers so they all lived in decent conditions near the plant.
In 1905, its most famous chocolate 'dairy milk' bar was introduced, containing more milk than its rival products. It was the first time a British company had been able to mass-produce milk chocolate.
Fuming @CadburyUK fans launch #boycotthershey campaign after chocolate ban http://t.co/HEvPfwL8La pic.twitter.com/ZayLAIEu5Z
— Birmingham Mail (@birminghammail) January 28, 2015
But over a hundred years later, a hostile bid led by US food giant Kraft Foods meant that the British manufacturer, one of the last in the UK, was sold to an American company for £11.5bn.
Hershey Company had also expressed interest in buying Cadbury's — but announced on January 22, 2010, that it would not counter Kraft's final offer.
The hostile takeover by Kraft was very unpopular with trade unions and people in Britain, especially in Birmingham. The Prime Minister at the time, Gordon Brown, said it was important to the British economy.
Amid the brewing backlash online over the ban of imports of the famous chocolate bars in the US, jobs remain at risk at the Cadbury plant in Birmingham.
In January 2015, the firm announced that 200 jobs are to be cut as part of a deal to invest £75m in new production lines at the plant. The posts are expected to go over the next two years.
"Unite is working to ensure that these developments would help safeguard the future of the plant for the next 20 to 25 years", says union representative Joe Clarke.
Joe Clarke said many of those choosing to leave Cadbury were likely to be over 55 and would be attracted to a redundancy offer:
"People staying will be taking on extra skills and getting a 2 percent pay increase on top of an annual pay award. The individuals who wish to remain employed will be able to do so because the threat of compulsory redundancy has been removed.
"We have a really good, loyal workforce and there's a good relationship established between the management and the union.
"We are in the fifth year of the deal struck since Kraft (now Mondelez) has taken over. This new equipment enables us to compete effectively, so I am hopeful about the site's future."
Will we eat Hershey's when we run out of @CadburyUK chocolate? Not a chance! #boycotthershey pic.twitter.com/CRR2vHge0A
— Larry and Carla Sue (@larryandcarla) January 26, 2015
And as social media spats continue over the US import ban on famous British chocolate bars, Cadbury owner and Corporate Affairs Manager at Mondelēz International Tony Bilsborough said:
"As this is purely a matter between Hershey and this US supplier, we are unable to comment."
