Fry's Chocolate Cream
A historic British chocolate-covered fondant bar developed by J. S. Fry & Sons and now manufactured by Cadbury.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Fry's Chocolate Cream is a British chocolate bar developed by J. S. Fry & Sons and currently manufactured by Cadbury, which is owned by Mondelēz International. First produced in 1866, it is generally described as the world's oldest chocolate bar brand and as the first mass-produced combination bar. Its defining construction is a plain fondant centre covered with a layer of plain chocolate. The combination of a flavoured or confectionery centre and an external chocolate coating distinguished the product from earlier solid chocolate bars and established a format that later became common across the confectionery industry. The product originated in Bristol, England, where the Fry family had been associated with chocolate making since approximately 1761. It followed Fry's Cream Stick, introduced in 1853, an early industrialised chocolate confection that used a fondant-like centre and helped make chocolate bars more affordable. Fry's Chocolate Cream was launched nineteen years after J. S. Fry & Sons created what is described as the first moulded, solid chocolate eating bar in 1847. In 1875, the Chocolate Cream was remoulded into the shape associated with the brand today. The bar was initially produced at the Fry factory on Union Street in Bristol. The brand developed a substantial manufacturing and distribution scale. At one point, production exceeded half a million units per day. Foil wrapping and a label were introduced in 1925, contributing to a more recognisable packaged identity. During the Second World War, Fry's Chocolate Creams were regularly issued to crews of Britain's Royal Air Force Bomber Command before missions, linking the product with wartime rationing and military provisioning, although the available reference material does not establish whether this was an official universal issue or a practice across particular units. Fry's broadened the cream-bar concept with several flavours. Orange Cream and Peppermint Cream were introduced in 1934, followed by the multi-centre Fry's Five Centres bar. Other historical varieties included Raspberry Cream, Strawberry Cream, Pineapple Cream, Coffee Cream and several short-lived products sold under the Fry's Spirit name. Five Centres contained multiple flavoured sections and was produced from 1934 to 1992, with formulations and naming conventions changing over time. Orange Cream was discontinued in 2015 and relaunched in 2018, while Strawberry Cream returned as a limited edition in 2020. In 2021, Fry's also introduced a hot chocolate powder designed to be mixed with milk. The brand became particularly visible in British advertising during the 1960s. Model George Lazenby appeared in television commercials as the “Big Fry” man. The campaign was positioned as a rival to Cadbury's Milk Tray advertising and helped make Lazenby a recognisable public figure. The commercials reportedly attracted the attention of people involved in casting James Bond; Lazenby later played Bond in the 1969 film On Her Majesty's Secret Service. The advertising connection is therefore an important part of the brand's cultural history, even though the product itself remained a traditional chocolate-and-fondant bar. Fry's became part of Cadbury's corporate history, and production later moved from Bristol to the Somerdale Garden City factory at Keynsham in 1923. After Kraft Foods acquired Cadbury plc in 2010, the Somerdale factory closed on 31 March 2011 and its machinery was moved to Warsaw, Poland. Following the later separation and acquisition of Cadbury by Mondelēz International, production arrangements changed again. The modern brand continues to be associated with Cadbury, while its product portfolio combines the original Chocolate Cream with selected flavoured variants. In 2022, the original milk-free recipe was changed to include skimmed milk powder, marking a notable formulation change for a product historically associated with a plain fondant centre enclosed in plain chocolate.
History
Fry's Chocolate Cream was developed by J. S. Fry & Sons and first produced in Bristol, England, in 1866. The product belongs to the early industrial history of chocolate confectionery, when manufacturers were moving from drinking chocolate and handmade sweets toward affordable, moulded eating bars. It followed Fry's Cream Stick, introduced in 1853, which used a confectionery centre and is regarded in the reference material as an important predecessor and one of the first industrialised affordable chocolate bars. The 1866 product consisted of a plain fondant centre enclosed in plain chocolate. This made it a combination bar rather than a solid chocolate bar, and the format helped distinguish it from the moulded solid chocolate eating bar that Fry's had developed in 1847. The Chocolate Cream was remoulded in 1875 into the form associated with the brand in later years. Its production eventually reached more than half a million units per day, demonstrating the scale achieved by the Fry manufacturing system. Foil wrapping and a label were added in 1925, creating a more formal packaged presentation. The Fry family had been involved in chocolate making in Bristol since approximately 1761. The original production site was on Union Street. In 1923, Fry's chocolate operations moved to the Somerdale Garden City factory at Keynsham. The factory became a major part of the brand's industrial identity and later of Cadbury's manufacturing network. During the Second World War, Fry's Chocolate Creams were regularly issued to Royal Air Force Bomber Command crews before missions, although the available source does not provide detailed procurement or distribution records. Flavour extensions became an important part of the brand's history. Peppermint Cream and Orange Cream were introduced in 1934, and Fry's Five Centres followed as a multi-flavour bar. Five Centres was made from 1934 to 1992 and used different combinations of centres over its history, including fruit and other flavours. It was temporarily renamed Fruit Medley during the 1960s before the Five Centres name was restored. Historical products also included Raspberry, Strawberry, Pineapple and Coffee Cream bars. Some varieties were later revived for limited periods, including Orange Cream in 2018 and Strawberry Cream in 2020. The brand's best-known advertising period came in the 1960s, when model George Lazenby appeared in television commercials as the “Big Fry” man. The campaign competed for attention with Cadbury's Milk Tray advertising. The commercials helped Lazenby gain visibility and reportedly contributed to his being considered for James Bond; he subsequently portrayed the character in On Her Majesty's Secret Service in 1969. Fry's later became part of Cadbury's corporate portfolio. Kraft Foods acquired Cadbury plc in 2010, and the Somerdale factory closed on 31 March 2011. Its machinery was transferred to Warsaw, Poland. Cadbury subsequently became part of Mondelēz International. The production history therefore reflects a shift from a family-associated Bristol business to a large international confectionery group. The brand has nevertheless retained its Fry's name and historical association with cream-centre chocolate bars. In the twenty-first century, the brand expanded into hot chocolate powder in 2021. A significant formulation change followed in 2022, when skimmed milk powder was introduced and the original milk-free recipe was abandoned. The current range is centred on Fry's Chocolate Cream, Peppermint Cream and Orange Cream, with some additional flavours appearing as limited editions or historical revivals.
- 2022
Recipe changes
[1]The original milk-free recipe is replaced by one containing skimmed milk powder.
- 2021
Hot chocolate powder launches
[1]Fry's introduces a hot chocolate powder intended for preparation with milk.
- 2018
Orange Cream is relaunched
[1]Fry's Orange Cream returns after having been discontinued in 2015.
- 2011
Somerdale factory closes
[1]The Somerdale factory closes following Kraft Foods' acquisition of Cadbury, and production machinery is moved to Warsaw, Poland.
- 1992
Fry's Five Centres production ends
[1]The Five Centres bar, produced in different flavour combinations for decades, is discontinued.
- 1960
The Big Fry advertising era
[1]George Lazenby appears in Fry's television advertising as the “Big Fry” man, creating one of the brand's most notable promotional associations.
- 1934
Flavoured cream variants appear
[1]Fry's Peppermint Cream, Orange Cream and the multi-centre Fry's Five Centres are introduced.
- 1925
Foil wrapping and label introduced
[1]The bar adopts foil wrapping and a label as part of its packaged presentation.
- 1923
Production moves to Somerdale
[1]Fry's chocolate manufacturing moves from Bristol to the Somerdale Garden City factory at Keynsham.
- 1875
The bar is remoulded
[1]Fry's Chocolate Cream is remoulded into the shape associated with the brand in subsequent history.
Products and positioning
A heritage British confectionery brand positioned around long-established chocolate-and-fondant recipes, distinctive flavoured cream centres and nostalgia associated with Fry's and Cadbury's historical advertising.
Chocolate bar · 1866
Fry's Chocolate Cream
The core Fry's product is a chocolate-covered fondant bar. The original formulation used a plain fondant centre enclosed in plain chocolate, making it a classic combination bar. The product was first made in 1866 and was remoulded into its familiar form in 1875. In 2022, skimmed milk powder was introduced and the earlier milk-free recipe was discontinued.
Flavoured cream chocolate bar · 1934
Fry's Peppermint Cream
Peppermint Cream is a mint-flavoured member of the Fry's cream-bar family. It combines a peppermint confectionery centre with a chocolate coating and was introduced alongside Orange Cream in 1934. It represents the brand's extension from a single plain fondant product into a range of distinctive flavoured centres.
Flavoured cream chocolate bar · 1934
Fry's Orange Cream
Orange Cream is an orange-flavoured variation of the Fry's chocolate-and-cream format. First introduced in 1934, it was discontinued in 2015 and relaunched in 2018. Its repeated return reflects the continuing use of historical Fry's flavours for the modern range.
Multi-centre chocolate bar · 1934
Fry's Five Centres
Fry's Five Centres was a bar divided into sections containing different flavoured centres. Orange, raspberry, lime, strawberry and pineapple were among the combinations associated with the product, although formulations varied. The bar was produced from 1934 to 1992 and was temporarily marketed as Fruit Medley during the 1960s.
Flavoured cream chocolate bars
Fry's Chocolate Cream historical variants
Historical and limited-edition variants included Raspberry Cream, Strawberry Cream, Pineapple Cream and Coffee Cream. Strawberry Cream was relaunched as a limited edition in 2020. The brand also briefly used the Fry's Spirit name for products such as Berry Margarita, Piña Colada and Velvet Dream.
Hot chocolate mix · 2021
Fry's hot chocolate powder
Introduced in 2021, Fry's hot chocolate powder extends the brand beyond single-serve chocolate bars. The product is designed to be blended with milk and uses the Fry's name in a drink-oriented format.
Marketing campaigns
- 1960The Big Fry
United Kingdom
Fry's television commercials featured model George Lazenby as the “Big Fry” man. The campaign competed for cultural attention with Cadbury's Milk Tray advertising and made Lazenby a recognisable advertising personality.
Outcome. The advertisements helped raise Lazenby's profile and reportedly contributed to his being noticed by people involved in James Bond casting. He later played James Bond in 1969.
Brand decisions
2022
The original recipe is replacedOtherBackground
The historic Chocolate Cream recipe had been associated with a milk-free fondant-centre formulation.
Action taken
Skimmed milk powder was introduced and the original milk-free recipe was abandoned.
Aftermath
The change altered a defining characteristic of the traditional product. The available reference does not provide sales, consumer-response or regulatory data concerning the change.
2021
Fry's enters hot chocolate powderProduct launchBackground
The brand had historically been centred on chocolate bars and cream-centre confectionery.
Action taken
A Fry's hot chocolate powder designed to be mixed with milk was launched.
Aftermath
The move broadened the brand into a beverage preparation format.
2018
Orange Cream is relaunchedProduct launchBackground
Orange Cream had been discontinued in 2015.
Action taken
The historical orange-flavoured variant was brought back to market.
Aftermath
Orange Cream became part of the currently cited Fry's Cream variant range.
2011
Manufacturing is relocated after Somerdale closureStrategyBackground
The closure of the historic Keynsham factory followed the acquisition of Cadbury by Kraft Foods.
Action taken
Production machinery was shipped to Warsaw, Poland, changing the manufacturing geography associated with Fry's.
Aftermath
The Fry's brand continued under Cadbury ownership, with subsequent Cadbury ownership passing to Mondelēz International.
2010
Cadbury is acquired by Kraft FoodsM&ABackground
Fry's was part of Cadbury's historical brand and manufacturing portfolio when Kraft Foods acquired Cadbury plc.
Action taken
Kraft Foods completed the acquisition of Cadbury, beginning a corporate transition that affected the Somerdale manufacturing site.
Aftermath
The Somerdale factory closed on 31 March 2011, and its machinery was moved to Warsaw, Poland. Cadbury later became part of Mondelēz International.
Sources1 sources
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