Confectionery and Chocolate at Low Prices: The Best Cadbury DealsOne of the world's largest confectionery makers, Cadbury has been around since the 1820s and continues to supply British confectionery lovers with everything from the Flake in their ice cream to the Roses that they give to grandma.
If you love Cadbury confectionery, read on to find out about the products they make, how they are made, and how to buy affordable Cadbury gift ideas.
Cadbury started life in 1824 when a Birmingham trader named John Cadbury opened his first store on Bull Street. As the market for confectionery grew in Victorian England, the Cadbury family business expanded as well, becoming a huge employer in the Midlands region.
Famously, George Cadbury (John's son) created a model community for Cadbury workers to live in called Bournville (which lives on as one of the company's iconic brands). They also continued to go the extra mile for working class confectionery lovers, creating richer, milkier bars like Dairy Milk which allowed ordinary people to enjoy exceptional treats.
International expansion took place after World War I, as Cadbury established a huge presence in Australia. In 1919, it also merged with fellow chocolate maker JS Fry, absorbing major products like Turkish Delight in the process. The 1920s and 30s then saw the introduction of products that we still enjoy today, such as Milk Tray, Flakes, Creme Eggs, and Fruit and Nut.
Things changed again in the 1960s and 70s as Cadbury absorbed drinks maker Schweppes and expanded into the American market, becoming the third largest soft drinks company in the world (in partnership with Coca-Cola).
In 2009, American food giant Kraft took over the company in a high-profile purchase, before spinning off Cadbury under its Mondelez arm, which is where the Birmingham chocolate manufacturer remains. One thing is certain though, the core range of Cadbury products is in great shape and more popular than ever, and there are plenty of opportunities for confectionery bargain hunters out there.
Cadbury specialises in manufacturing chocolate-based confectionery products. That's been their core mission for well over 100 years, and they continue to produce some of the UK's most beloved bars and snacks. When browsing the selection below, bear in mind that a) all of these products come in multipacks and boxes b) some come in bar form as well and c) that many are available as tiny bites in Roses selections.
With all of that in mind, here are some of the Cadbury products you're sure to find at supermarkets and newsagents near you:
Dairy Milk - The company's most famous chocolate bar, Dairy Milk has been around since 1905 and is the UK's best-selling confectionery bar, even over 110 years later since its debut. Made from milk chocolate, you can purchase it in bite sized mini-bar form or as larger blocks weighing 95g, 120g or 360g, and there are also seasonal variants like Dairy Milk Easter Eggs. Recently, other versions have been successfully introduced, most notably Dairy Milk Oreos which feature a vanilla filling and crunchy pieces of Oreo cookies.
Bournville - Unlike Dairy Milk, Bournville is made from dark chocolate. Named after the Birmingham suburb where Cadbury originated, the bar appeared in 1908 and has been a popular counterpoint to Dairy Milk ever since. As with Dairy Milk, it's available in small and large bars, and also comes in tubs of powdered hot chocolate (which is a handy baking ingredient too).
Twirl - Made from folded layers of very thin Dairy Milk wrapped in a solid coating, Twirls are lighter than Dairy Milk bars and is hugely popular among UK consumers. It comes in a twin pack with two bars, as tiny Twirl bites, in multipack deals or as Twirl Orange, a recent innovation that is beginning to find a fan base.
Flake - Like a Twirl but without the coating, Flakes are bars of folded chocolate layers that crumble apart when you bite into them. Introduced in 1920, they are famously used in ice cream cones and also come as Flake Tarts.
Double Decker - Another hugely popular bar, the Double Decker has two layers – one made from nougat and the other from rice crispies, and a solid coating. Like Twirls, you can find a smaller version of the Double Decker in bite-sized form (Dinky Deckers).
Boost - Launched in 1985, Boosts feature a caramel and biscuit filling, with a solid coating. These bars are also often marketed as energy bars under the “Boost Glucose” label, thanks to their calorific content (and name).
Fudge - Fudge first appeared in 1948 and quickly became one of Cadbury's most popular bars. It features a fudge centre with a solid coating.
Curly Wurly - Made from coated caramel, Curly Wurlys feature a knotted strand of flattened confectionery and are a lighter type of treat.
Wispa - Possibly the least calorific of all Cadbury bars, Wispas feature aerated chocolate covered in a thin layer of Dairy Milk.
Chomp - A chewy mixture of wafer and caramel, coated in milk chocolate and sold in slender bar shaped form.
Picnic - Features nougat, caramel, peanuts and biscuit with a solid coating.
Fruit and Nut - A popular variant of Dairy Milk, Fruit and Nut contains a healthy helping of raisins and hazelnuts.
Fry's Turkish Delight - First made by JS Fry in 1914, the world's most popular brand of Turkish Delight is now made by Cadbury, giving confectionery fans the chance to enjoy a delicious blend of rose-flavoured jelly and solid Dairy Milk.
Crunchie - Another creation from JS Fry, Crunchies feature a honeycomb centre and a solid coating.
Buttons - A staple of school lunch boxes across the UK, buttons are tiny discs that come in mini bags and have been delighting sweets fans since the 1960s.
Creme Eggs - The first Creme Egg rolled off the production in 1919 and was an instant hit. Featuring a soft orange fondant filling which has been skillfully made to resemble an actual egg, they come with a milk chocolate coating and the firm regularly sells over 200 million of these seasonal treats as Easter approaches. As well as Creme Eggs themselves, you'll also find Creme Egg Ice Cream and cakes, as well as other snacks featuring the same unique recipe.
Roses - Cadbury's gift tins have been around since the 1930s and are the UK's most popular bite-sized confectionery brand. Famous for their light blue design and roses motif, these sets feature favourites like caramel-filled Golden Barrels, Tangy Orange Cremes and dome-like Hazel Whirls. A great gift idea, Roses come in a variety of pack sizes.
Cadbury also specialises in offering seasonal products based around occasions like Christmas, Easter and Valentine's Day, so if you are hunting for an affordable, delicious gift idea, look no further. Here are some of seasonal products that are well worth a look:
Dairy Milk Easter Eggs - Made from the finest Dairy Milk, these eggs come in a range of sizes, with the largest weighing a generous 331g, and feature 3 Dairy Milk bars as an added bonus. You can also buy them in smaller varieties – the perfect products for a thrilling Easter egg hunt at home.
Creme Egg Easter Eggs - You'll also find giant Creme Eggs that weigh almost 500g. They aren't filled with fondant themselves, but they do come with 5 Creme Eggs on the side.
Merry Christmas Bars - Every Christmas, the company launches a special festive range of Dairy Milk bars, which are an absolute treat for confectionary fans. Be sure to check out their range of festive jumpers while you're shopping as well.
Cadbury are very open about their manufacturing process, which has a number of well-defined steps.
First off, they source their cocoa beans from suppliers in South East Asia or Africa, using factories in Singapore or the UK to process them, extracting the cocoa mass which forms the basis for their products.
This cocoa mass is then mixed with sugar and condensed milk, creating a gooey liquid which is then left to evaporate, leaving what's known as “crumb”.
This crumb is then mixed together with cocoa butter and flavourings as well as emulsifiers that help to maintain its consistency over long periods. After that, the mixture is beaten in a process known as “conching” before being “tempered” - a complex process which results in the perfect Cadbury consistency.
The tempered product is then poured into moulds with added ingredients like nuts and raisins. In some cases, it is poured over cores made from wafer or nougat, a process known as “enrobing.”
Either way, the result is a dependable brand that produces a huge range of different types of chocolate.
Although this process is basically the same for all of the company's products, there are some variations and ingredients differ between brands. This is potentially problematic if you are trying to follow a gluten-free diet, so it's handy to know which of the firm's bars qualify. If you're wondering, here's the gluten-free checklist:
Crunchie 
Wispa and Wispa Gold
Flake
Twirl
Chomp
Curly Wurly
Fudge
Turkish Delight
Eclairs
All Types of Buttons
Roses
Heroes
Milk Tray
That means there are plenty of products in the firm's range that do contain gluten, such as Dairy Milk or Bournville bars and Creme Eggs. So exercise caution when buying confectionery, as it's not always easy to tell what is gluten-free and what isn't.
Cadbury knows that their success is based around gift-giving. Chocolate is a fantastic gift to give. It's something that almost everyone adores, and it comes in a wide range of forms, making it a go-to product when you aren't sure exactly what to give. Thankfully, Cadbury offers a number of ways to give their products to friends and family.
Personalised bars – These days, every product seems to be “personalised”, from trainers to razors, and chocolate bars are no exception. Have your bars decorated with unique images on the front or back (for a small extra cost) to delight your loved ones when they unwrap their presents.
Milk Tray– The UK's most famous confectionery selection, Milk Tray was famously advertised by scenes showing a secret agent carrying out daring deeds to supply his lover with boxes of Milk Tray. Around since 1915, they remain a cut above other popular brands with treats like Strawberry Temptation and Truffle Hearts (and attractive box designs as well).
Heroes – Designed for a youthful market, Heroes come in cardboard boxes and feature miniaturised versions of popular products like Fudge, Twirl, Whispa, Eclairs and Creme Eggs. They are a great option if you know someone likes confectionery, but aren't sure precisely what their favourite brands are.
Hampers – If you really want to push the boat out, why not think about giving a Cadbury Hamper? You can make your own hamper via the company's website, adding as many bites, bars and hot chocolate tubs as you wish. You can also bundle in a couple of bottles of wine to seal the deal.
Cadburys is a massive global brand. Realising the size of their fan base, the company has created a confectionery-based family attraction that chocolate lovers will adore. If you are a fan of the brand, it's well worth checking the HotUKDeals Cadbury listings for discounted tickets to Cadburys World, which is the closest thing in the UK to Willy Wonka's Factory.
What can you expect to find when you pay Cadbury a visit? You can see how chocolate is made, meet characters from the past at a replica of the original Cadbury shop, play interactive games at Purple Planet, find out about the history of chocolate, take rides, enjoy play areas and – of course – taste some of the company's sweet treats.
The attraction also hosts a program of entertainment events aimed at kids throughout the year, so check their schedule for sweet-related spectacles that will enchant your kids.
Whether you are a confectionery addict or you're just seeking out a one-off gift, there's no need to pay over the odds for the items you need. Instead, take advantage of the many ways to save money on the sweets you desire.
Firstly, don't buy your Twirls individually if you can help it. Almost all of Cadbury's bars come in multipack forms which are always much cheaper than purchasing them as and when you feel like it. If you know you love a particular brand, why not stock up by buying in bulk?
Secondly, think smart when shopping for seasonal gifts. If you want an advent calendar or some festive chocolate, buy at the start of the Christmas season before prices rise, and check for special offers. Confectionery is the kind of product that retailers often discount to attract customers to buy other things, so take advantage of this kind of deal if it arises.
If you want some really cheap Creme Eggs, shop after Easter for the very best deals. After the Easter rush, retailers will slash their Cadbury prices, resulting in a bonanza for people who aren't bothered about buying eggs before Easter Sunday.
You might also think about signing up with Cadbury Gifts Direct. If you do so, you can earn “Chocolate Chunks” when you shop online, which can be redeemed for extra sweets in the future, so it makes sense if you are buying a big hamper of other online gifts.
However, most of all, whenever you want to buy some Cadbury products, head over to the HotUKDeals Cadbury listings. You'll find every single product from the company on special offer, with deals from major UK retailers like Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Tesco, Asda, Iceland, Poundland, Ocado, Amazon, Morrisons, and Cadbury themselves. That way, you can instantly check today's best offers and avoid missing out.
HotUKDeals also allows you to find out when seasonal sales occur, so you can tell exactly when your local supermarkets are cutting the cost of their Valentine's boxes or their Easter eggs and pounce when the price is right.
Cadbury's chocolate is a national treasure, delighting people all over the country every day with their range of textures and tastes. From Flakes to Creme Eggs and from Milk Tray to the tiniest bag of Buttons, Cadbury has products for all confectionery fans. Find sweetest prices on the UK's favourite sweets by using the HotUKDeals Cadbury listings today.
