On 19 Jan 2010 at 1:18pm Crumbly & Flakey wrote:
The mould has been broken, a huge chunk of British history and tradition melted into oblivion.
Oh how those smug Europeans must be sniggering (remember the Vegelat debate?)
I shall become a Chocolatier and save the nation.
On 19 Jan 2010 at 1:40pm Aero wrote:
Admittedly, there is a hole in the market now 
On 19 Jan 2010 at 1:42pm Prick Stein wrote:
Those Americans are krafty with their sticky fingers!
On 19 Jan 2010 at 1:52pm Merlin Milner wrote:
Another UK industry lost. Short term gain for institutional investors. It is a disgrace.
However most of the public do not care. Make me wonder why I bother with this country if we have no pride.
On 19 Jan 2010 at 1:57pm Prick Stein wrote:
Or indeed spelling.
On 19 Jan 2010 at 2:18pm Kraftwerk wrote:
I've heard that the Yanks will rename the company Kadberry Bonneville.
On 19 Jan 2010 at 4:03pm SAR wrote:
A logical evolutionary step for chocolate that tastes like wet dog. Bring on Milka.
On 19 Jan 2010 at 4:04pm Sherlock wrote:
Merlin, even if we do care - which i do - as we are not institutional shareholders there is nothing we can do about it. Nor can the Americans whose companies are taken over by, for example, British businesses.
On 19 Jan 2010 at 6:09pm Merlin Milner wrote:
Sherlock, name some of the US companies of worth (over £1bn) that have been taken over by UK companies (not by private equity companies) in the last 5 years.
On 19 Jan 2010 at 6:15pm Sherlock wrote:
Aren't you avoiding the main point Merlin. What can a consumer or even a small shareholder do about a takeover when the decisions are made by big institutional shareholders?
On 19 Jan 2010 at 7:04pm Merlin Milner wrote:
I understand your point. However it seems that the UK is for sale and once an industry has been lost it is very difficult to regain. I fully understand that we are in a global economy. However if we lose sizable companies based here we lose much of their benfits to the economy. Britain has virually no retrictions to international investors and whilst benefiting financial institutions it effects the balence of industries left in this country. Kraft will be burdened with debt after this pointless purchase, UK jobs will be lost and the governement will lose out on corporation tax.
My previous post alluded to the lack of parity between our open market and those of the US and other EU countries. So what can we as citizens do? Tell politicains that business is something that they should try and understand rather than fiddle about with as successive governments have always done. Give incentives to UK based companies as a priority rather inward investment. Invest in R&D, science and engineering. In other words vote for a party that understands business and supports our companies and workforce.
I will not be buying Cadburys any more (I do not buy Mars, Kraft or Nestle) and instead will be supporting UK confectionary companies. So suggent Sherlock that you eat Thorntons and drink Vimto!
On 19 Jan 2010 at 7:15pm Sherlock wrote:
Completely agree with you Merlin. My point was that we - as individuals - appear to be able to do little about it apart from, as you suggest, boycotting Cadbury's in future and, in the long run, supporting a party that will not allow the interests of the City to dominate the economy - a struggle, as you know, that has been going on since at least 1900.
On 19 Jan 2010 at 8:07pm Brother Stan wrote:
This sounds like a "Popular People's Front of Judea" debate!
On 19 Jan 2010 at 11:07pm Spinster Of This Parish wrote:
I echo your views Merlin - a very sad loss indeed.
On 20 Jan 2010 at 8:42am expat wrote:
Staff at the Cadbury factory in New Zealand are also worried about their jobs, in Dunedin. Personally, I just hope they keep the same recipes, especially finger of fudge. During last year Cadbury's in NZ changed the recipe and added more palm oil to the chocky. The taste changed, they were boycotted, and in October reverted back to the original recipe.
On 20 Jan 2010 at 9:55am Expat two wrote:
Why is that sad? Are Cadbury shareholders somehow more deserving of fabulous profiteering than Kraft's? Cadbury's is nothing to be proud of anyway it just tastes...powdery (?), Galaxy is much better chocolate, and neither of them can hold a candle to the Belgians. Sherlock's on the right track with this - it makes no difference to anybody who doesn't work for Cadburys, but corporate news somehow makes front page headlines now.
Man-alive, I miss Dime bars.
On 20 Jan 2010 at 1:29pm Prick Stein wrote:
But why are Dime bars so small, they should be bigger! And yes Cadburys been taken over, oh well s*@t happens. It's capitalism, get over it. The stuff will still be unhealthy and make you fat and make your teeth fall out so no change in the long run!
On 20 Jan 2010 at 4:34pm Merlin Milner wrote:
I am talking about the UK's version of capitalism which is different to the US, Japan, Germany, France etc. and the fact that ther is little parity; ie a more open market.
Personally I do care if England nevers wins a single sporting event ever again and to those who do care get over it, it is only a game.
On 20 Jan 2010 at 5:01pm Sherlock wrote:
The UK's version of capitalism is much closer to that of the US than it is to France and Germany.
On 20 Jan 2010 at 6:57pm Expat two wrote:
I've just read on the BBC website the takeover was funded by RBS. Now that is a scandal - UK tax payers funding an American takeover which will lead to lost jobs. I regularly look at the BBC website and wonder how much more abuse the public will take from governments wholehearted support of fat-cattery. There is evidently no limit.
On 20 Jan 2010 at 11:01pm Dave wrote:
Yup, Expat two is right, this was exposed at prime minister's question time by Nick Clegg, asking how this was possible.
On 20 Jan 2010 at 11:43pm expat two wrote:
I've kind of changed my mind about this after talking to a few Kiwis - I'm not going to get angry at it, I'm just going to laugh at you like the rest of world does.