Cadbury was founded in 1824 in Birmingham, England, by John Cadbury (1801–1889), a Quaker who sold tea, coffee and drinking chocolate. Cadbury manufactured their first Easter egg in 1875, creating the modern chocolate Easter egg after developing a pure cocoa butter that could be moulded into smooth shapes.

The brand also tours the UK's major cities encouraging people to anonymously give their loved ones a free chocolate bar. As well as Cadbury's chocolate, the company also owns Maynards and Halls, and is associated with several types of confectionery including former Trebor and Bassett's brands or products such as Liquorice Allsorts, Jelly Babies, Flumps, Mints, Black Jack chews, Trident gum, and Softmints. Cadbury Favourites contains: Cadbury Dairy Milk, Cadbury Dairy Milk Caramello, Cadbury Dream, Cadbury Old Gold, Cadbury Flake, Cadbury Crunchie, Cadbury Picnic, Cadbury Boost, Cadbury Moro, Cadbury Cherry Ripe, Fry’s Turkish Delight.But they weren't popular enough and were instead discontinued a few years American food producers Kraft bought Cadbury.

Cadbury's Milk Tray was first produced in 1915 and continued in production throughout the remainder of the First World War. The brand has used immersive experiential marketing campaigns which include a Double Decker fun bus, Joy Generator machine and pop-up cafes. According to the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, Cadbury chocolate wrappers along with Walkers crisps packets and Coca-Cola cans were the three top brands that were the most common pieces of rubbish found in UK streets in 2013. Following four weeks of consultations with local Cadbury employees, the Mayor of Dunedin Dave Cull, and local trade union representatives, Banfield confirmed that the closure would go ahead the following year due to the lack of viable options to continue production in New Zealand. Consumer backlash was significant from environmentalists and chocolate lovers in both Australia and New Zealand, with consumers objecting to both the taste from the cheaper formulation, and the use of palm oil given its role in the destruction of rainforests.Four commercials for Cadbury products featured in the top 50 of Channel 4's 2000 UK poll of the " 100 Greatest Adverts". Cadbury has been upgrading its manufacturing facility at Claremont, Tasmania, Australia, since 2001.