The very first Cadbury Easter egg appeared in 1875.
Early eggs were whole plain chocolate shells which could be decorated with chocolate piping and marzipan flowers. Later on moulds were developed, so companies like Cadbury could add branding and finishes like the ‘crocodile’ look that you often see on today’s Easter eggs. Cardboard eggs by Cadbury arrived in 1906.
Between 1933-1939 many more eggs appeared in the Cadbury range. Cardboard eggs disappeared but now there was numerous plain and milk chocolate eggs with chocolates inside. Then there were eggs in china mugs, and fondant eggs – the precursors of Cadbury Creme Eggs. At this time Easter eggs were designed mainly to appeal to adults rather than children.
Between 1940 and the early 1950s Easter eggs disappeared due to wartime shortages. And there was stark contrast between the glamorous eggs of the 1930s and the 1950s eggs which had to make use of limited resources.
A problem solved: Easter egg packaging
But one big step forward was made around this time: the invention of the Easter egg carton. Easter eggs are fragile and an awkward shape to transport. But in 1950 two designers, Bill Horry and John Waddington solved the problem after being inspired by the open cartons used for lightbulbs.
The new carton not only provided space for bright new designs and branding, they were cheap and easy to make too. Their prototype was developed by Cadbury’s Design Office, and first used for a Roses Easter egg – it’s the origin of all the Easter egg cartons you see today.