I confess – I really, really, really like my chocolate! And I have sampled quite a bit in my time. Of course I have tried Nestle, Mars, Cadbury, Lindt, Haigh’s and more in the past. These days I tend to stick to just a couple of brands, with Lindt and Haighs being my personal favourites.
But let’s take a look at Cadbury vs Lindt. In the taste test stakes Lindt wins hands down for me, but that all boils down to personal preference. So let’s have a look at the companies and their practices.
Cadbury’s is owned by American giant Mondelez International.
They had to shut down their factory recently for five weeks due to an oversupply of stock. The ABC reported last year, “The Hobart Cadbury factory will close its doors for five weeks at the end of this
year."
Monodelez International said, ,"The Claremont factory would shut
down over the Christmas period due to lagging sales and a bigger-than-expected stockpile.”
In the UK Cadbury's had to sack 200 of their employees as redundant.
Add to this the fact it is facing boycotts in Australia from consumers against halal certification, and that it has also faced boycotts from Malaysian consumers because of suspected pork contamination.
That turned out to be a storm in a teacup but, too late, the damage was done.
They have recently announced they will be reducing the size of their family block by one row but the price will remain the same. The signal is they are struggling and desperate for Government support that was promised 18 months ago.
When consumers ring Cadbury's to inquire about halal certification they are often met with abrupt and unfriendly receptionists fed up with dealing with the large volume of dissatisfied customers.
The generic email response to queries about halal certification says they will not tolerate racism, bigotry or discrimination. And yet, by paying for halal certification that is exactly what they are promoting!
I have had leaders of the Sikh community call me to encourage me because they are forbidden to eat halal certified foods. They feel very discriminated against as so many products are literally off limits due to their religious beliefs.
I have had Buddhists say the same thing. Many Christians believe their scriptures also forbid eating food dedicated to false gods. Some Jews agree.
Cadbury’s decision to maintain and defend halal certification despite the large number of complaints they receive is bewildering. It obviously doesn't increase sales as their company is certainly suffering.
Perhaps they should cease paying these fees for a year and see what happens?
In stark contrast Lindt has announced that their market share continued to increase in 2014. Their website claims they had significant sales growth in all markets, with substantial market share gains.
They don’t pay halal certification fees and their business is booming!
Lindt chooses to make their product available to all people of all faiths and backgrounds. They do not discriminate or limit their customer base by giving in to needless religious demands placed on them.
They successfully share their delicious product in many countries around the world. You can read the label and contact the company to determine if the product is suitable for you. No unnecessary or irrelevant religious practices catered for or funded by the consumer.
No Islamic religious requirement imposed upon the consumer. No funding of mosques, Islamic schools or “charities” with your chocolate purchases.
There are many Australian and international companies successfully growing and thriving without halal certification. Greens, Three Threes, Inglewood Chicken, Madura Tea, Haigh’s Chocolate and so many more.
Quite a few companies have also dropped halal certification in recent times out of respect for the consumer and market sentiment.
The ones I have spoken to have told me that nothing has changed and that Muslims are still buying their products. The products are still suitable or permissible for Muslims, but as a result of not paying the certification fees they now can reach a broader market.
They are no longer limited by religious beliefs or practices. The food remains the same, it's just available to more consumers. Everyone wins.
If Muslims insist on halal slaughtered meat that is fine, but they can raise the money themselves to pay for specialised halal slaughterers. User pays!
And it doesn’t need to be disproportionate to the demand. Around 2.2% of Australia is Muslim, it should be no more than that percentage in relation to halal certified products.
It is time for companies catering for the Australian domestic market to take notice of their consumers and act accordingly. Having an Islamic religious practice imposed on us and asking us to fund it is indeed discriminatory and unnecessary!
The below Cadbury's products have been certified halal.
Bars
Cadbury Boost
Cadbury Boost Stix
Cadbury Crunchie
Cadbury Flake
Cadbury Flake Luxury
Cadbury Time Out
Cadbury Twirl
Cadbury Picnic
Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate
Cadbury Dairy Milk Fruit & Nut
Cadbury Dairy Milk Hazelnut
Cadbury Dream
Cadbury Dairy Milk Caramello
Cadbury Dairy Milk Milk Bubbly
Cadbury Dairy Milk Bubbly Dream
Cadbury Dairy Milk Bubbly Mint
Cadbury Dairy Milk Bubbly Dark
Blocks
Cadbury Dairy Milk Milk Bubbly
Cadbury Dairy Milk Bubbly Dream
Cadbury Dairy Milk Bubbly Mint
Cadbury Dairy Milk Bubbly Dark
Cadbury Dairy Milk Black Forest
Cadbury Dairy Milk Caramello
Cadbury Dairy Milk Coconut Rough
Cadbury Dairy Milk Fruit & Nut
Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate
Cadbury Dairy Milk Peppermint
Cadbury Dairy Milk Roast Almond
Cadbury Dairy Milk Top Deck
Cadbury Dairy Milk Turkish Delight
Cadbury Dairy Milk Crunchie
Cadbury Dairy Milk Hazelnut
Cadbury Dream
Cadbury Old Gold 70% Cocoa
Cadbury Old Gold Original
Cadbury Old Gold Peppermint
Cadbury Old Gold Roast Almond
Rolls
Cadbury Dairy Milk Roll
Cadbury Dairy Milk Caramello Roll
Cadbury Dairy Milk Peppermint Roll
Pre-teens
Cadbury Caramello Koala
Cadbury Dairy Milk Freddo
Cadbury Dream Freddo
Cadbury Milky Top Freddo
Cadbury Peppermint Freddo
Cadbury Strawberry Freddo
Cadbury Furry Friends
Seasonal (Easter and Christmas)
Cadbury Dairy Milk Seasonal & Novelty products
Cadbury Dark Chocolate Seasonal & Novelty products
Cadbury Dream Chocolate Seasonal & Novelty products
Cadbury Beanie Characters
Cadbury Mini Eggs
Dream White Chocolate Seasonal & Novelty products
Old Gold Seasonal & Novelty products
Red Tulip Milk Chocolate Seasonal & Novelty Items
Red Tulip White Chocolate Seasonal & Novelty Items
Chocolate Coated/Scorched Products
Chocolate Coated Fruit & Nut
Chocolate Coated Almonds
Chocolate Coated Peanuts
Chocolate Coated Sultanas
Boxed Chocolates
Cadbury Milk Tray
Bitesize
Cadbury Mini Drops
Pascall
Pascall White Marshmallows
Pascall Pink Marshmallows
Pascall Marshmallow Swirls (all varieties)
Pascall Jaybees
Pascall Jubes
Pascall Jellies
Pascall Wine Gums
Pascall Eclairs
The Natural Confectionery Co.
Berry Bliss
Strawberries & Cream Bliss
Tangy Bliss
Tropical Bliss
Dinosaurs
Forbidden Fruits
Forest Fruits
Fruit Fantasy
Fruits & Cream Mix
Fruit Salad
Jelly Babies
Jelly Beans
Jelly Joiners
Jungle Jellies
Lolly Disguises
Party Mix
Snakes
Sour Squirms
Citrus Slices
Unbearables
