Green and Blacks Chocolate: Premium Organic Brand Explained

Green & Black’s began life in 1991 in a west London flat, founded by Craig Sams and Josephine Fairley with a deceptively simple idea: make chocolate that was both organic and genuinely delicious. Three decades later, the brand has grown from that modest start to become the UK’s leading organic confectionery brand while navigating ownership changes, certification shifts, and the eternal question of why premium chocolate costs what it does. To understand Green & Black’s today, it helps to start where it all began.

Founded: 1991 · Key Products: Organic chocolate bars, ice cream · Certifications: Organic, Fairtrade · Popular Variant: 85% Dark Chocolate · Owner Question: Cadbury (per common queries)

The following table consolidates the key specifications for Green & Black’s flagship product and brand position.

Is Green and Blacks owned by Cadburys?

Yes—partially, and through a chain of corporate acquisitions. Cadbury Schweppes bought Green & Black’s in May 2006 for an estimated £20 million, with Cadbury pledging to run the brand as a separate business following the acquisition. Then, in 2010, Mondelēz International acquired Cadbury itself, making Green & Black’s a subsidiary of one of the world’s largest snack food companies.

Ownership history

The journey from independent brand to corporate subsidiary took just 14 years. Green & Black’s sales grew from £4.5 million in 2002 to £29 million by 2005—a 544% increase that made the brand an attractive acquisition target. By May 2006, Green & Black’s commanded a 7.4% share of the UK block chocolate market, cementing its status as the fastest-growing confectionery brand in the UK during that period.

Current parent company

Mondelēz International, formerly known as Kraft Foods, acquired Cadbury in 2010 and now owns Green & Black’s. The brand continues to operate with its own product identity, though it now sits within a portfolio that includes household names like Oreo, Nabisco, and Philadelphia cream cheese.

What happened to black and green chocolate?

Green & Black’s hasn’t disappeared—it’s evolved in ways that reflect both its organic roots and market pressures. The brand celebrated 30 years as a Fairtrade-certified chocolate brand in 2024, yet the story behind that anniversary includes some notable shifts in direction.

Brand evolution

The name itself tells a story: “Green” represents environmental concerns, while “Black” refers to high cocoa solids chocolate. In 1991, the brand’s first cocoa beans came from Togo, West Africa, sourced from a 1980s French foreign aid project. Today, Green & Black’s sources cocoa from Madagascar, Belize, and the Dominican Republic—and uses approximately one-third of the world’s organic cocoa.

Recipe or availability changes

The most significant shift came in August 2017 when Green & Black’s launched the Velvet Edition, which is neither Fair Trade nor Organic. The Irish Times noted that this launch represented a strategic departure from the brand’s founding ethical principles. However, the Classic range remained Fairtrade-certified and organic after the 2017 relaunch, sourced from the Dominican Republic.

Why is green and black chocolate so expensive?

Green & Black’s commands premium prices because it refuses to compromise on the ingredients and sourcing that define the brand. The organic and Fairtrade certifications aren’t marketing badges—they represent real cost increases at every step of the supply chain.

Organic sourcing costs

Organic cocoa farming prohibits synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, which typically reduces yields and requires more labor-intensive land management. Green & Black’s was the first ever 70% cocoa solids chocolate to be sold in the UK, demonstrating the brand’s commitment to high-cocoa products that also meet organic standards. The initial cocoa beans in 1991 came from Togo via a French foreign aid project—the brand has always prioritized ethical sourcing over cheap ingredients.

Fairtrade premiums

Fairtrade certification means Green & Black’s pays a premium above the market price for cocoa. In the Dominican Republic alone, Green & Black’s planned to pay an extra £300,000 annually to cocoa suppliers for Fairtrade conversion. Maya Gold, the brand’s flagship, was awarded the Worldaware Business Award in 1994 for good business practice—the first UK chocolate to receive the Fairtrade mark came with a commitment to purchasing cocoa from Maya farmers in Belize.

Popular Green & Black’s Chocolate Products

Green & Black’s product range spans from intense dark bars to more approachable milk options, with mint providing a perennial favorite among consumers who want flavor without sacrificing ethical credentials.

85% Dark Chocolate

The 85% Cocoa Dark Bar remains the flagship for serious chocolate enthusiasts. Available in 90g Tesco packs, this bar showcases what Green & Black’s does best: high cocoa content with organic certification and vanilla as a flavoring agent. Reviews frequently cite the absence of artificial additives and the clean ingredient list as reasons to choose this bar over cheaper competitors.

Milk and Mint variants

Beyond dark chocolate, Green & Black’s produces milk chocolate and mint dark variants that offer more accessible entry points to the brand. Customer reviews on retailer sites frequently mention that the mint dark chocolate delivers “the best dark chocolate out there” with “organic cocoa, no pesticides” as key differentiators.

The product comparison below summarizes the main variants currently available in the Classic range.

Where to Buy Green & Black’s Chocolate

Finding Green & Black’s isn’t difficult, but the purchasing channel matters for those prioritizing ethical credentials. Not all retailers stock the full range, and online options offer different advantages.

Tesco and Ireland options

Tesco carries Green & Black’s products in the UK, with the 85% dark bar typically available in 90g format. Irish consumers can access the brand through Tesco.ie, though selection may vary by store location. The brand’s presence in major supermarkets means impulse purchases are possible for those who spot the distinctive packaging.

Official gifts site

Cadburygiftsdirect.co.uk serves as the official direct-to-consumer channel, offering the complete Green & Black’s range alongside other Cadbury products. This is the best option for gift purchases and occasions requiring specific product configurations. The site also hosts the brand’s official history narrative, which emphasizes the 30-year Fairtrade anniversary.

“The best dark chocolate out there. Organic cocoa, no pesticides.”

— Customer review, retailer site

“Green & Black’s produces organic food products including chocolate bars.”

— Wikipedia article on Green & Black’s

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Green & Black’s chocolate, long recognized as an organic fairtrade pioneer, was founded in 1991 and prioritizes ethical sourcing under Cadbury ownership.

Frequently asked questions