(Intermediate level passage and exercises.)
By the turn of the century, the new factory employed some 2,500 workers. Cadbury’s was not just an ordinary factory. Far ahead of its time, and under the direction of George Cadbury, the workers were provided with housing, education and training. Pension schemes for employees and medical facilities ensured a healthy and dedicated work force. George Cadbury regarded the employees as part of his family and treated them well, and with recognition for their services.
Cadbury’s Dairy Milk became a household name. After the First World War (1914-18), the factory was redeveloped and mass production began in earnest. A merger with J S Fry and Sons in 1919 saw the integration of well-known brands such as Fry’s Chocolate Cream and Fry’s Turkish Delight, which is still sold today. In 1915, Cadbury’s Milk Tray followed and became a resounding success. The brand known as Roses commenced in 1938. These products became market leaders and placed Cadbury’s at the forefront of world chocolate manufacture.
During the war years, chocolate was regarded as an essential food and placed under the supervision of the government. After the war, normal production resumed and Cadbury’s went from strength to strength. More factories opened, new products and new technology improved production and the insatiable demand for chocolate just grew and grew.
Reading and listening
Read the passage (or listen to a recording) and answer the following questions.
- How many workers did the company employ?
- What five advantages did the Cadbury workers have?
- What product became a household name?
- Which company did Cadbury’s merge with?
- Which three products have been very popular?
- What was introduced in 1938?
- Why was chocolate taken under government control?
- Which word is used to describe the constant increase in chocolate sales?
Discussion and reflection
Make a list of the services or support that a good employer would provide for its employees.
What support did Cadbury’s provide for its workers?
What is the current position today with large companies in your part of the world?
Vocabulary in context
Working with a partner, if possible, try to decide on the meaning of the following words from the context.
- dedicated
- recognition
- household name
- mass production
- in earnest
- merger
- integration
- resounding
- commenced
- market leader
- forefront
- resumed
- insatiable
Writing task
Complete the passage by filling in the missing phrases:
………………, the new factory employed some 2,500 workers. Cadbury’s was not just an ordinary factory. …………………, and under the direction of George Cadbury the workers were provided with housing, education and training. Pension schemes for employees and medical facilities ensured a healthy and dedicated work force. George Cadbury regarded the employees as part of his family and treated them well, and with recognition for their services.
Cadbury’s Dairy Milk became a household name. ……………………, the factory was re-developed and mass production began in earnest. A merger with J S Fry and Sons in 1919 saw the integration of well-known brands such as Fry’s Chocolate Cream and Fry’s Turkish Delight, which is still sold today. ………………, Cadbury’s Milk Tray followed and became a resounding success. The brand known as Roses commenced in 1938. These products became market leaders and placed Cadbury’s at the forefront of world chocolate manufacture.
………………, chocolate was regarded as an essential food and placed under the supervision of the government. ………………, normal production resumed and Cadbury’s went from strength to strength. More factories opened, new products and new technology improved production and the insatiable demand for chocolate just grew and grew.
- In 1915, …
- Far ahead of its time, …
- After the war, …
- After the First World War, …
- By the turn of the century, …
- During the war years, …