Cadbury is one of the most loved chocolate names on the planet, from a bar of Dairy Milk to the Creme Egg at Easter. Yet the company that started in a small Birmingham shop is no longer British-owned. In the United States the picture is even more unusual, so here is who really owns Cadbury in 2026 and how it got there.
Who Owns Cadbury in 2026?
Cadbury is owned by Mondelēz International, an American snacking company headquartered in Chicago and listed on the Nasdaq under the ticker MDLZ. Mondelēz has held the Cadbury business since the 2010 takeover by Kraft Foods, from which Mondelēz was later spun off.
Cadbury is no longer a separate listed company, so it has no shareholders of its own. Its owners are the shareholders of Mondelēz, led by Dirk Van de Put, Chair and CEO. In its latest proxy statement, the company says it holds the number one global spot in biscuits and a strong number two in chocolate.
Ownership and Key Stakeholders Table
| Owner / Party | Role | Approx. Stake | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mondelēz International (Nasdaq: MDLZ) | Parent company of Cadbury | 100% of the Cadbury business | Based in Chicago; owns Cadbury since 2010 (first as part of Kraft Foods) |
| Capital Group | Institutional shareholder | ~9.4% of Mondelēz | Held through Capital Research and Capital International units |
| Vanguard | Institutional shareholder | ~9% of Mondelēz | Combined across its Vanguard entities |
| BlackRock | Institutional shareholder | ~8.3% of Mondelēz | Largest single holder in mid-2026 data |
| JPMorgan | Institutional shareholder | ~4.8% of Mondelēz | Asset management and banking arms combined |
| State Street | Institutional shareholder | ~4.7% of Mondelēz | Index-fund manager |
| The Hershey Company | U.S. licensee of Cadbury | No ownership stake | Makes and sells Cadbury in the U.S. under a license held since 1988 |
| Dirk Van de Put | Chair and CEO of Mondelēz | No controlling stake | Leads the group that owns Cadbury |
Who Are the Biggest Shareholders Behind Mondelēz?
No single investor controls Mondelēz. Institutions hold well over 80% of the shares, according to Investing.com’s ownership data. On mid-2026 filings tracked by Yahoo Finance, BlackRock held about 8.3%, while Vanguard held roughly 9% across its units and Capital Group about 9.4%.
Most of these holders are index-fund and active asset managers, so the real owners are millions of everyday savers and pension members. The exact percentages shift by filing date and by how each firm’s units are counted, so treat them as close estimates.
The Origin Story: A Birmingham Grocery Shop
John Cadbury started the business in 1824 in Birmingham, England, selling cocoa and drinking chocolate from his grocery shop, as Cadbury’s own history page explains. His sons George and Richard carried the company forward when he retired.
Over the next century the family firm became a national favorite and later a global one. Its best-known products today include Dairy Milk, the Creme Egg, Roses, and Flake, according to Wikipedia’s Cadbury entry.
From Family Firm to Cadbury Schweppes
Cadbury grew through mergers. It joined chocolate maker J.S. Fry & Sons in 1919 and drinks company Schweppes in 1969, becoming Cadbury Schweppes. It bought Trebor and Bassett’s in 1989 and Green & Black’s in 2005.
In 2008 the chocolate and drinks businesses split again, and the American drinks arm became the Dr Pepper Snapple Group. That group is now part of the company behind Dr Pepper, which shows how one corporate family can scatter into very different owners.
The Kraft Takeover of 2010
Kraft Foods made an unsolicited bid for Cadbury in 2009, and Cadbury’s board rejected it as far too low. Rival suitors such as Hershey and Ferrero floated interest but dropped out. Berkshire Hathaway, then Kraft’s largest shareholder, voted against Kraft’s plan to issue shares to fund the bid, as CBS News reported.
Cadbury’s board finally agreed in January 2010, and Kraft took control on 2 February 2010 at roughly £11.5 billion. Within days Kraft reversed its pledge to keep the Somerdale factory near Bristol open, which put about 400 jobs at risk and drew criticism, as this review of the deal notes.
From Kraft to Mondelēz
In October 2012, Kraft Foods split in two. The global snacking business, with Oreo, Cadbury, Toblerone, and Milka, was renamed Mondelēz International, as The Motley Fool explains. The North American grocery business kept the Kraft name and later merged with Heinz in 2015.
That is why Cadbury’s parent today is Mondelēz, not Kraft. You can read more about the company on its official site.
Why Hershey Sells Cadbury in the United States
In the U.S., Hershey makes and sells Cadbury chocolate under a license it acquired in 1988. According to Hershey’s Cadbury page, its Pennsylvania plant produces Cadbury Mini Eggs and bars like Caramello, while the Creme Eggs sold in the U.S. are made by Mondelēz in Canada.
The setup mirrors the one for Kit Kat, which Hershey also makes in the U.S. under license. So Hershey does not own Cadbury, but American shoppers often meet the brand through Hershey.
Mondelēz’s Failed Pursuit of Hershey
Mondelēz has tried to buy Hershey before. In 2016 it offered about $23 billion, which Hershey turned down. In December 2024 it made a preliminary approach that the Hershey Trust, which holds roughly 80% of the voting power, rejected as too low, according to Bloomberg via BNN.
On the same day, Mondelēz announced a $9 billion share buyback and said it would focus on smaller deals. A merger of the two would have put Cadbury and Hershey’s U.S. brands under one roof.
What Is Happening at Cadbury’s Parent in 2026
On October 29, 2026, Mondelēz reported third-quarter net revenues up 2.3%, with organic growth of 2.1% and volume and mix up 1.8%, according to its Q3 2026 results. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $0.78.
The results beat analyst expectations, and shares rose about 6.5% in extended trading, Reuters reported. Falling cocoa costs helped, and RetailDetail notes that volumes are recovering after years of steep price rises.
The company also named Amit Banati as Chief Financial Officer from July 1, 2026, according to an SEC filing. Earlier in his career he worked at Cadbury Schweppes.
Is Cadbury Owned by Nestlé or the Cadbury Family?
Neither. Nestlé is a separate Swiss rival, and the Cadbury family no longer owns the corporate group. The brand’s heritage is British, but its owner is an American public company.
Cadbury ranks second in global confectionery behind Mars, which is one of the largest privately held companies in America. Both compete in the same crowded corner of the food and beverage business.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Who owns Cadbury in 2026?
Mondelēz International owns Cadbury and is listed on the Nasdaq as MDLZ.
Q2. Is Cadbury still British owned?
No, it has been American-owned since the 2010 Kraft takeover, though its roots are in Birmingham.
Q3. How much did Kraft pay for Cadbury?
Kraft paid roughly £11.5 billion (about $19.5 billion) in 2010.
Q4. Who makes Cadbury chocolate in the United States?
Hershey makes it under a license it has held since 1988.
Q5. Who is the CEO of Mondelēz?
Dirk Van de Put is Chair and CEO of Mondelēz International.
Q6. Is Cadbury owned by Nestlé?
No, Nestlé is a separate rival and has no ownership of Cadbury.
Q7. Who are Mondelēz’s biggest shareholders?
Capital Group, Vanguard, and BlackRock each hold roughly 8% to 9.5%.
Q8. Who founded Cadbury?
John Cadbury founded it in 1824 in Birmingham, England.
Official website: cadbury.co.uk
Cadbury is owned by Mondelēz International, a Chicago-based public company that has held the brand since Kraft’s roughly £11.5 billion takeover in 2010. Its shareholders are mostly large asset managers, with Capital Group, Vanguard, and BlackRock each holding roughly 8% to 9.5%.
In the U.S., Hershey makes Cadbury under a license held since 1988. With Mondelēz’s strong Q3 2026 results and easing cocoa costs, the brand that began in a Birmingham grocery shop in 1824 is on firmer footing than it was a year ago.