Hershey Cadbury - Thousands of people are protesting against the decision of American chocolate manufacturer Hershey to ban the sale of Cadbury chocolates made overseas in the US.
Last week, Hershey Foods Corporation announced that it has entered into an agreement with Let's Buy British Imports (LBB) to cease bringing certain brands of Cadbury chocolates made in the UK into the US for sale. Reports indicate that LBB will also stop importing Maltesers, Kit Kat bars, Yorkie chocolate bars and Toffee Crisps.
Hershey spokesman Jeff Beckman explained that the sale of the chocolates in the country amounts to a violation of its trademark rights and trade dress agreement with Cadbury.
A representative of Hershey also told The New York Times that the chocolates are being outlawed for sale in the country because Hershey has a trademark agreement that gives the company the right to manufacture popular Cadbury chocolate brands with a different recipe.
But US Chocolate lovers have rebuked the move to ban the sale of British Cadbury chocolates. According to critics, British chocolate tastes very different - richer - than American chocolates.
A petition on Moveon.org, which calls for people to support LLB and other British businesses in the US, has gotten over 23,000 signatories. Meanwhile, people have also turned to social media to vent out their frustrations with the decision of Hershey to ban British Cadbury chocolates.
#boycotthershey Hersey chocolate is a vile imitation of the real thing your "Cadbury's" is a sick joke I'll boycott everything Hershey
— Roy Dickinson (@LoftusRaider) January 28, 2015
Dear @hersheys, rest assured, nobody has ever mistaken a Toffee Crisp or bag of Maltesers for 1 of your products. Not once. #boycotthershey
— Eliott C. McLaughlin (@furlinedPumas) January 27, 2015
#boycotthershey Don't buy that fake crap that Hershey dress up as a Cadbury bar. It's not real and they taste awful.
— Peter C. Bradbury (@petercbradbury) January 28, 2015
OMG Hershey as a british person who loves the U.S. No cool to ban our chocolate!!! Can't help that's it tastes better! #boycotthershey
— claire king (@c_k211) January 28, 2015
Critics accuse Hershey of trying to stamp out the competition. Meanwhile, others have warned that Hershey's actions risks creating a black market for Cadbury chocolate.
On Tuesday, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) arrested two Irish nationals, who were trying to smuggle about $2.4 million worth of uncut Cadbury chocolate into the country on a yatch.
Reports indicate that Cadbury chocolates in the country are quickly selling out and critics have warned that the latest bust - the first in history - foreshadows many more to come.
However, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has noted that the two Irish nationals accused of attempting to smuggle the uncut Cadbury chocolate bars into the country will be used '"as an example to deter others wishing to traffic illegal diary milk chocolate into the United States."
