Fry's Chocolate Cream

Enamel sign advertising Fry's Chocolate, pre-1925

Fry's Cream is a chocolate bar made by Cadbury's, and formerly by J. S. Fry & Sons in Union Street, Bristol, England.^[1] Fry's Chocolate Cream was one of the first chocolate bars ever produced, launched in 1866.^[1] Like the first chocolate bars, they are dairy-free and vegan.^[2] It consists of a fondant centre enrobed in dark chocolate (with a minty taste) and is available in a plain version, and also peppermint or orange fondant.

Products and branding

There are currently two variants of Fry's Cream:

• Fry's Chocolate Cream^[3]
• Fry's Peppermint Cream^[4]

Over the years, other variants existed:

• Fry's Five Centre (orange, raspberry, lime, strawberry, and pineapple), produced from 1934 to 1992.^[5] Five Centre was also sold with a combination of orange, coffee, vanilla, lime, and raspberry centres. It is probable that other combinations were sold at one time or another.^[6]
• Fry's Strawberry Cream.
• Fry's Pineapple Cream.
• Fry's Fruit Medley - from the 1960s.
• Fry's Orange Cream - created in 1800s and discontinued 2015.

An unsuccessful mid-1990s relaunch attempt also saw new variants available under the modernised "Fry's Spirit" branding for a while:^[7]

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

Whether the Five Centre title was dropped briefly and relaunched as Fruit Medley (then changed back again) or they sat alongside each other despite being basically the same bar is unclear.

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

Cadbury has stated that they will pass on feedback about relaunching the Fry's brand with other flavours. It is speculated that if enough people get on to Cadbury, they may relaunch Fry's.

Fry's chocolate bar was promoted by model George Lazenby, who later portrayed James Bond in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, in 1969.

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, where Cadbury production continues.^[8]

See also

• List of chocolate bar brands

References

1. The first ever chocolate bar suitable for widespread consumption having been created by J. S. Fry & Sons in 1847, in Union Street, Bristol, England. "Sweet sweets nostalgia". BBC News. 2008-05-28. Retrieved 2008-05-30.
2. "Fry's Chocolate Cream". Cadbury.
3. "Fry's Chocolate Cream". Cadbury. Retrieved 2014-10-28.
4. "Fry's Peppermint Cream". Cadbury. Retrieved 2014-10-28.
5. "Chocolates of the Past". Cadbury. Retrieved 2012-05-12.
6. Sweet Talk, Whittaker, Nicholas, Orion Books, London, 1998
7. "[email protected]". Jakehowlett.com. Retrieved 2012-05-12.
8. "Chocs away as staff leave Cadbury's factory for last time". Bath Chronicle. 31 March 2011. Retrieved 31 March 2011.