Dairy Milk production is coming home - Mondelez

Most Dairy Milk production is to return to Cadbury 's historic Bournville factory, owner Mondelez International has announced.

The company, patrons of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC), said some production in continental Europe would return to the UK from next year after a £15 million investment at the Birmingham site. A total of 125 million more Dairy Milk bars would be manufactured at Bournville village, which was built by the Cadbury brothers in the 1870s.

Paul Faulkner, the GBCC 's chief executive, said: “This news is a real boost for the city and the dedicated workforce at Bournville, and underlines Mondelez 's long-standing commitment to Birmingham.

“It 's further confirmation that Mondelez regard the Bournville plant as the heart of Cadbury, recognising its place in the history of Birmingham. ”

The investment in a new production line will create an "increase in efficiency" and allow the bar to be made mostly in Birmingham once more, the company said. In 2020, Bournville produced 35,000 tonnes of Cadbury Dairy Milk - equivalent to 234 million tablets.

The new investment will add another 12,000 tonnes of capacity, meaning an additional 125 million bars will be made in Bournville when they would previously have been in Europe.

Mondelez UK managing director Louise Stigant said Bournville was still considered the "heart of Cadbury" and bringing more Dairy milk production back "home" offered an opportunity to invest in the plant.

About £11 million of the new funding will go towards a new production line.

The remaining £4 million will be spent increasing its chocolate-making capacity.

Some production will remain overseas, Mondelez said, and the firm also confirmed the investment would not lead to the creation of any new jobs.

"At a time when manufacturing in the UK is facing significant challenges, it has never been more vital to secure the long-term competitiveness and sustainability of our business," Ms Stigant added.

A small percentage of Cadbury Dairy Milk tablets will continue to be produced in Ireland, Germany, Hungary and Poland.