Thomas Caffrey
Encyclopedia
Thomas Andrew Caffrey was an Irish chocolatier
and founder of Caffrey's Confectionery, which today sells products in Ireland, Europe, Australia and the United States and is the oldest remaining family-owned, family-named chocolate company in Ireland. He was considered "Ireland's answer to Willy Wonka
", and was referred to as this when alive, having been credited with personally inventing treats such as the Macaroon bar, the Big Time bar and the Chocolate Snowball. Generations of Irish schoolchildren recognised these products, according to The Irish Times
, while his imagination was inspired by his son's frolics with his wind-up toy and led to him creating the Marshmallow Mice.
Caffrey was born in Dublin on 12 September 1917. During summers as a little boy he worked in the chocolate factory managed by his brother, William, on the Isle of Man
. Caffrey's Confectionary commenced business in Harold's Cross, Dublin in 1930 before moving to Walkinstown
. Caffrey received a contract with the UK retailer Woolworths Group
in the 1950s. In 1953 he provided confectionary for the coronation of Elizabeth II in the UK. Fundamental to his success was the fair treatment of his staff. Caffrey remained with his company until he was in his seventies.
Caffrey was also interested in horticulture
, skipping, reading and rugby union
, supporting both Leinster
and the Ireland national rugby union team
. He ate chocolate daily, favouring his own Snowball invention above any other. His wife Eileen died before him; he died at the age of 92 on 15 May 2010. The Irish Post
reacted to Caffrey's death with the headline "the end of an era" and by calling him "one of Ireland's finest heroes" and "the country's leading chocolatier, having created the delights of the Snowball, the Chocolate Mallow, the Tea Cake and Mint Crisp bars amongst many others". Caffrey's Confectionary was still in business at its Walkinstown base when he died.
Chocolatier
A chocolatier is someone who makes confectionery from chocolate. Chocolatiers are distinct from chocolate makers, who create chocolate from cacao beans and other ingredients.Professional chocolatiers study topics including the following:...
and founder of Caffrey's Confectionery, which today sells products in Ireland, Europe, Australia and the United States and is the oldest remaining family-owned, family-named chocolate company in Ireland. He was considered "Ireland's answer to Willy Wonka
Willy Wonka
This article is about the fictional character. For the candy company, see, The Willy Wonka Candy Company.Willy Wonka is a fictional character in the 1964 Roald Dahl novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the film adaptations that followed. The book and the 1971 film adaption both vividly...
", and was referred to as this when alive, having been credited with personally inventing treats such as the Macaroon bar, the Big Time bar and the Chocolate Snowball. Generations of Irish schoolchildren recognised these products, according to The Irish Times
The Irish Times
The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
, while his imagination was inspired by his son's frolics with his wind-up toy and led to him creating the Marshmallow Mice.
Caffrey was born in Dublin on 12 September 1917. During summers as a little boy he worked in the chocolate factory managed by his brother, William, on the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
. Caffrey's Confectionary commenced business in Harold's Cross, Dublin in 1930 before moving to Walkinstown
Walkinstown
Walkinstown is a suburb of Dublin, Ireland, situated on the Southside of the city, approximately 6 kilometres south-west of Dublin city centre. The suburb borders Crumlin to the east, Drimnagh to the north, Greenhills to the south and Ballymount, Bluebell and Clondalkin to the west...
. Caffrey received a contract with the UK retailer Woolworths Group
Woolworths Group
Woolworths Group plc was a listed British company that owned the high-street retail chain, Woolworths, as well as other brands such as the entertainment distributor Entertainment UK and book and resource distributor Bertram Books...
in the 1950s. In 1953 he provided confectionary for the coronation of Elizabeth II in the UK. Fundamental to his success was the fair treatment of his staff. Caffrey remained with his company until he was in his seventies.
Caffrey was also interested in horticulture
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
, skipping, reading and rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
, supporting both Leinster
Leinster Rugby
Leinster Rugby, usually referred to simply as Leinster, is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Dublin, representing the Irish province of Leinster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro 12 and also competes in the Heineken Cup...
and the Ireland national rugby union team
Ireland national rugby union team
The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
. He ate chocolate daily, favouring his own Snowball invention above any other. His wife Eileen died before him; he died at the age of 92 on 15 May 2010. The Irish Post
The Irish Post
The Irish Post is a UK Newspaper for the Irish community in Britain. It was founded by the late journalist Breandán Mac Lua and Tony Beatty, a businessman from County Waterford. Thomas Crosbie Holdings acquired the paper in 2003...
reacted to Caffrey's death with the headline "the end of an era" and by calling him "one of Ireland's finest heroes" and "the country's leading chocolatier, having created the delights of the Snowball, the Chocolate Mallow, the Tea Cake and Mint Crisp bars amongst many others". Caffrey's Confectionary was still in business at its Walkinstown base when he died.