Confectionery giant Cadbury is celebrating Mother’s Day by collaborating with indigenous artists in Australia and New Zealand on a limited-edition Cadbury Roses range.
Aboriginal artist Michelle Kerrin and Kiwi artist Bonnie Brown (known as Studio Bon) designed the special gift boxes, to be sold in the respective countries.
Kerrin’s special gift box, called ‘Meye’, celebrates moms, grandmothers, sisters “and all maternal figures,” according to Cadbury. It features a traditional rose and the birthing caves to depict motherhood and the community.
“We are born into a Matriarch of strong women,” said Kerrin. “We are raised by our mothers, our birth mothers, aunts, grandmothers, sisters and all women from our communities. The Matriarch is powerful, bold and warm. It gives us life and enables our existence. Mum, mother, ma, Meye… we must always give back to our mothers. We must always return this love”.
Meanwhile, Brown’s limited-edition box design (pictured above) features the tones and pallets of the classic Cadbury Roses reinterpreted with her own vibrant illustrative style. Her childhood experiences growing up in Queenstown and Nelson inspired lush feminine tones.
“I grew up in a very creative household, so I was always spending my spare time drawing, painting, or designing something with my mum,” said Brown. “I wanted to create something to say thank you to my mum, and all the women in my life who have inspired me.”
Kiwis can win a personalised portrait of themselves and a loved one by Brown when they buy a chocolate box. They can register online and 15 lucky winners will be selected from May 10.
“It’s been a privilege to work with such a renowned Aboriginal artist to articulate her vision of Mother’s Day,” said Meagan Denison, Cadbury Roses assistant brand manager in Australia. “We recognise that Mother’s Day means different things to different people, similarly to how Australian’s feel about Cadbury Roses.”
“Re-imaging the look of one of one of our most iconic brands was a big decision for us,” said Christel Maurer, senior brand manager at Mondelēz International in New Zealand. “We couldn’t be happier with the direction and final design Bonnie has created for all the Kiwi mums out there. We are so thankful to have her talents on-board to bring the limited-edition design to life.”
Cadbury in Australia also pledged $50,000 to the Stars Foundation to help young Aboriginal girls in pursuing their dreams by providing full time school mentors. The organisation said 98 per cent of girls under their program graduated secondary school (compared to national Indigenous average of 65 per cent) and 85 per cent of 2020 graduates went to apply for further study or got a job, compared to the national Indigenous employment rate of only 49 per cent.
Cadbury Roses limited-edition 450g Gift Box is sold for RRP $15.50 in Australian supermarkets and department stores and for RRP NZ$16.99 in New Zealand supermarkets, dairies and convenience stores.
