First visitors wowed by Cadbury exhibit

For almost three decades, Dave Stenton lived and breathed chocolate.

He was the Southland and Central Otago territory manager for Cadbury for 28 years.

“Everybody called me 'Cadbury Dave'. It’s in my blood, that purple,” he says. “I reckon my veins are made of chocolate too, I’ve eaten that much of it over the years. It was a big part of my life.”

On World Chocolate Day (July 7) he was “thrilled” to see Cadbury’s history retained in a new exhibit on display at Bill Richardson Transport World.

One of the first visitors to the new exhibit, its opening was especially poignant for him. He had also worked for Bill Richardson when he was younger, and has been a volunteer at Bill Richardson Transport World for about the last five years.

Showcased in the room, custom-built from the ground up by charitable organisation MENZSHED Invercargill, is memorabilia including chocolate moulds, truck and car models, as well as the wall panels that once greeted guests at Cadbury World in Dunedin.

“It’s a great thing for Invercargill. It really is wonderful to see that history hasn’t been lost,” Mr Stenton says.

Visiting the exhibit alongside Mr Stenton was Cadbury’s former Dunedin site manager Judith Mair, who was instrumental in getting the collection to Bill Richardson Transport World.

“The magic of chocolate is just oozing out of there,” she said.

Among the Cadbury items acquired by Bill Richardson Transport World are two service trucks – a Ford Model AA and a Model TT – renovated by the workshop team.

“They’ve never looked better.”

The pair were joined by former Cadbury World team leader, and current Mondelez International territory manager, Scott Muir. He was equally wowed by the space.

“It looks fantastic. It’s come up a real treat,” Mr Muir says.

Now is the perfect time to visit Bill Richardson Transport World to check out the new exhibit.

School holidays have begun, and locals' deals for Southland and Otago residents run until the end of July.

Find out more here.

Entry to the exhibit is included in admission to Bill Richardson Transport World.