Cadbury to open its first Cocoa House at Bluewater

Chocolate maker Cadbury will launch its first branded café in the autumn ahead of plans for a national chain of up to 50 sites.

The move, which was first reported in April, will see the company open its first Cadbury Cocoa House at Bluewater shopping centre in Kent in early October. Several openings are already planned for London for 2011, with Cadbury hoping to roll out up to 50 outlets nationwide over the next five years.

Cadbury Cocoa House will take inspiration from John Cadbury's original cocoa house in Birmingham, from which he founded the Cadbury confectionery business in 1824.

The concept is the brainchild of founders Marilyn Newman, David Morris and Tony Goldsmith, who approached Cadbury five years ago and have agreed a licensing deal to use the company name. The team has not received the backing from Cadbury's new owner Kraft.

Chief executive Morris, former Harrods director of food, beverages and restaurants, commented: "Cadbury Cocoa House is a destination, bringing a touch of affordable luxury and British nostalgia to the high street which, from its retro ice-cream parlour to traditional home-made afternoon tea, will take cues from the past as its inspiration for the future."

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By Kerstin Kühn

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