The Bournvita girl, Millie Small, has passed away at the age of 72. Cadbury Nigeria Plc announced the sad news, stating that the Jamaican singer reportedly died from a stroke in England. Small, born Millicent Small, gained fame for singing the early Bournvita commercial song “It’s Millie The Bournvita Girl” under the Reggae genre in 1964 in the United Kingdom. Her rendition of the Bournvita song played a pivotal role in popularizing Cadbury Nigeria’s flagship cocoa beverage brand in the sixties.
She was also known for her global hit single “My Boy Lollipop,” which reached number two in both the US Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart in 1964. The high-pitched vocals in this song resonated with her fans worldwide. In 2011, the Governor-General of Jamaica honored Small with a Commander in the Order of Distinction for her significant contribution to the Jamaican music industry. Small is survived by her daughter, Jaelee, who is also a musician.
Oyeyimika Adeboye, Managing Director of Cadbury Nigeria, expressed condolences to Small’s family and acknowledged her role in making Bournvita a household name in the sixties.
Cadbury Nigeria Plc is recognized as a pioneer cocoa beverage manufacturer in the country, with some beloved brands such as BournVita, Hot Chocolate 3 in 1, TomTom, Buttermint, and Clorets. The company is a 74.99%-owned subsidiary of Mondelēz International, a global snacking powerhouse with a diverse group of indigenous, individual, and institutional investors owning the remaining 25.01% of shares.
Mondelēz International, Inc. operates in over 150 countries and is known for iconic global and local brands such as Oreo, belVita, LU biscuits, Cadbury Dairy Milk, Milka, Toblerone chocolate, Sour Patch Kids candy, and Trident gum. With 2018 net revenues of approximately $26 billion, MDLZ is a member of the Standard and Poor’s 500, Nasdaq 100, and Dow Jones Sustainability Index.
For more information about Cadbury Nigeria, visit www.cadburynigeria.com or www.mondelezinternational.com/About/Nigeria. To learn more about Mondelēz International, visit www.mondelezinternational.com or follow the company on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDLZ.