Fry's Chocolate Cream

Fry's Chocolate Cream is a chocolate bar developed by J. S. Fry & Sons and currently manufactured by Cadbury. Launched in 1866, Fry's Chocolate Cream is the first mass-produced chocolate bar and is the world's oldest chocolate bar brand.[1][2][3] The original chocolate bar consisted of a plain fondant centre enrobed in plain chocolate. Variants include Peppermint Cream, Orange Cream, Raspberry Cream and Strawberry Cream.

Fry's Chocolate Cream
Product typeChocolate bar
OwnerCadbury
CountryUnited Kingdom
Introduced1866 (1866)
Related brandsFry's Peppermint Cream
Fry's Orange Cream
Fry's Raspberry Cream
MarketsUnited Kingdom and Ireland
Previous ownersJ. S. Fry & Sons
Websitecadbury.co.uk/fryschocolatecream

History

Fry's Chocolate Cream was first produced in 1866 and is considered the direct descendant of Fry's Cream Stick produced in 1853.[1][4] The Cream Stick was the first industrialised and affordable chocolate bar. In 1875, Fry's Chocolate Cream was remoulded to the shape it still has today.[5] During production, it once exceeded half a million units per day and the foil wrapping and label would appear in 1925. The Orange Cream and Peppermint Cream, followed by Fry's Five Centre, were introduced in 1934.[4][6]

In World War II, British Bomber crews in the RAF Bomber Command were regularly issued with Fry's Chocolate Creams before missions.[7]

In 2022 the original milk free recipe, which had previously been suitable for vegans, was abandoned with the inclusion of skimmed milk powder in the list of ingredients.

Products and branding
Enamel sign advertising Fry's Chocolate, pre-1925

There are currently five variants of Fry's Cream:

  • Fry's Chocolate Cream[8]
  • Fry's Peppermint Cream[9]
  • Fry's Orange Cream[10] (Discontinued 2015, relaunched 2018)
  • Fry's Raspberry Cream[11]
  • Fry's Strawberry Cream (Relaunched 2020 Limited edition)[12]

Over the years, other variants existed:

  • Fry's Five Centre (orange, raspberry, lime, strawberry, and pineapple), produced from 1934 to 1992.[13] Five Centre was also sold with a combination of orange, coffee, vanilla, lime, and raspberry centres.[4] It is probable that other combinations were sold at one time or another; for example, one reproduction 1950s advert shows a blackcurrant flavoured segment in place of vanilla.[14] The Five Centre bar was renamed Fruit Medley during the 1960s, but this was later reversed.[4]
  • Fry's Strawberry Cream
  • Fry's Pineapple Cream

An unsuccessful mid-1990s relaunch attempt also saw new variants available under the modernised "Fry's Spirit" branding for a while:[15]

  • Fry's Spirit Berry Margarita
  • Fry's Spirit Piña Colada
  • Fry's Spirit Velvet Dream (cream liqueur)

Cadbury also produced a solid milk chocolate bar called Five Boys using the Fry's trademark from 1902 until 1976. Cadbury produced milk and plain chocolate sandwich bars under the Fry's branding also.

In 2021, Fry's launched a hot chocolate powder which can be blended with milk.

Lazenby commercials

In the 1960s, Fry's Chocolate Cream was advertised by model George Lazenby as 'The Big Fry' man, making him a celebrity in the UK.[16] The commercials rivalled Cadbury Milk Tray which has been advertised by the 'Milk Tray Man'.[16] Dyson Lowell, a casting director for James Bond, saw the Fry commercials and contacted Bond producer Harry Saltzman in the belief Lazenby could be groomed for the role of 007.[16] Lazenby later portrayed James Bond in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, in 1969.[16]

Location and ownership

The Fry's chocolate bar was first produced in Union Street, Bristol, England in 1866, where the family name had been associated with chocolate making since c. 1761. In 1923, Fry's (now Cadbury) chocolate factory moved to Somerdale Garden City, Keynsham, England.

Following a 2010 takeover of Cadbury plc by Kraft Foods, the Somerdale factory was closed on 31 March 2011 and its machinery shipped to Warsaw, Poland. Then, after acquisition of Cadbury by Mondelez International [17] production was relocated and Warsaw plant became part of Lotte Wedel.[18]

See also

References
  1. Mintz, Sidney (2015). The Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets. Oxford University Press. p. 88 and 157.
  2. The first ever chocolate bar suitable for widespread consumption having been created by J. S. Fry & Sons in 1747, in Union Street, Bristol, England."Sweet sweets nostalgia". BBC News. 28 May 2008. Retrieved 30 May 2008.
  3. Byrne, Eugene (21 April 2019). "Family disgrace, betrayal and tragedy: Fascinating facts about Bristol's chocolate history". Bristol Post Live. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  4. Berry, Steve; Norman, Phil (2014). A History of Sweets in 50 Wrappers. London: The Friday Project. pp. 48–49. ISBN 9780007575480.
  5. Chrystal, Paul (2013). Chocolate: The British Chocolate Industry. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 20.
  6. Chrystal, Paul (18 October 2011). Chocolate: The British Chocolate Industry. Shire Publications. pp. 19–21. ISBN 978-0-74780-841-1.
  7. “WW2 People’s War”. BBC. Retrieved 10 July 2021
  8. "Fry's Chocolate Cream". Cadbury. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  9. "Fry's Peppermint Cream". Cadbury. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  10. "Fry's Orange cream". Waitrose.
  11. "Fry's Raspberry Cream 3pk". B&M Stores. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  12. "Fry's Strawberry Cream 3pk". Iceland. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  13. "Chocolates of the Past". Cadbury. Archived from the original on 8 April 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
  14. Sweet Talk, Whittaker, Nicholas, Orion Books, London, 1998
  15. "wrappers@tuckshop.net". Jakehowlett.com. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
  16. Bolton, Lucy (2018). Lasting Screen Stars: Images that Fade and Personas that Endure. Springer. p. 219.
  17. Mondelez International
  18. "Chocs away as staff leave Cadbury's factory for last time". Bath Chronicle. 31 March 2011. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
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