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Name: Chocolate Wars: The 150-Year Rivalry Between the World's Greatest Chocolate Makers: Cadbury, Deborah: 9781610390514: Amazon.com: Books
Price: 11.49 USD
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Rating: 4.3 (231 reviews)

Deborah Cadbury

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Chocolate Wars: The 150-Year Rivalry Between the World's Greatest Chocolate Makers Paperback – Illustrated, October 25, 2011

by Deborah Cadbury (Author)

231 ratings

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In the early nineteenth century the major English chocolate firms -- Fry, Rowntree, and Cadbury -- were all Quaker family enterprises that aimed to do well by doing good. The English chocolatiers introduced the world's first chocolate bar and ever fancier chocolate temptations -- while also writing groundbreaking papers on poverty, publishing authoritative studies of the Bible, and campaigning against human rights abuses. Chocolate was always a global business, and in the global competitors, especially the Swiss and the Americans Hershey and Mars, the Quaker capitalists met their match. The ensuing chocolate wars would culminate in a multi-billion-dollar showdown pitting Quaker tradition against the cutthroat tactics of a corporate behemoth.

Featuring a cast of savvy entrepreneurs, brilliant eccentrics, and resourceful visionaries, Chocolate Wars is a delicious history of the fierce, 150-year business rivalry for one of the world's most coveted markets.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Business Times
“Fascinating...Chocolate Wars presents narrative history at its most absorbing, peopled by colourful characters: the true story of the chocolate pioneers, the visions and ideals that inspired them and the mouth-watering concoctions they created... Deborah gives readers an insider look, fleshing out the stories around her family with her familiar competence as a bestselling historian and award winning documentary maker.”

Kirkus
“A fine pocket history of corporate confectionery... Cadbury has a knack for capturing the driven personalities who launched these [chocolate] empires.”

Library Journal
“Although written by proud Cadbury kin, the narrative is balanced and fair. This is a well written and well researched look at chocolate and the Quaker business tradition that any food or history buff will enjoy.”

Sunday Times
“Chocolate Wars – clear, readable and richly detailed – is at least as much about Quakers as it is about chocolate... enjoyable.”

Financial Times, November 15, 2010
“Deborah Cadbury’s branch of the Cadbury family wasn’t involved in the chocolate business but she garnered a deep impression from a childhood visit to her cousins’ company and the reader of Chocolate Wars feels they are getting an insider’s view. Her own background as a historian and TV documentary maker means that this book communicates in an episodic and visual style, making what risks being a dull subject gripping as it flips back and forth around the world documenting parallel events in the emergence of the chocolate industry.”

Examiner.com, November 14, 2010
“The 150-year rivalry among the world’s greatest chocolate making families, is told by a descendant of one of the families. Just think what sweetness came out of these families' rivalries, depicted deliciously in this new book.”

Boston Globe, November 14, 2010
“Deborah Cadbury begins with a brief description of Quaker aims and humane business practices before moving on through the history of the family business. This takes in the truly exciting race to put Cadbury’s chocolate candy in every mouth, to the exclusion of that made by rival English Quaker firms, Rowntree and Fry, to say nothing of the Swiss Lindt and Nestlé. Her many faceted account takes in technology, distribution, and industrial espionage, advertising and packaging, labor relations and model housing for workers, the role of the firm and its owners in wartime and international expansion.”

Gulfnews.com, November 26, 2010
“Engaging and scholarly, Chocolate Wars is less a family biography than an impressively thought-provoking parable for our times.”

Los Angeles Times, November 28, 2010
“Fascinating…Read this excellent book.”

Philadelphia Inquirer, November 28, 2010
“The inside story of the 150-year rivalry among Cadbury, Hershey, Nestlé, and Mars is a fascinating and luscious tale. Deborah Cadbury, great-great-great-granddaughter of 19th-century chocolate maker John Cadbury, tells it eloquently in Chocolate Wars, drawing the reader into her epic of family and industry with clear love for her subject.”

Christian Science Monitor, December 1, 2010
“[Chocolate Wars] pits idealism against capitalism, religious piety against the forces of greed and cutthroat competition. Though, like great fiction, it defies belief, it’s the true story of our favorite guilty pleasure. Cadbury’s book, like her namesake’s famous sampler, is full of surprises and delights.”

Bnreview.com, December 2010
“This engaging history of the 150-year rivalry among the world's greatest chocolate makers—the English firms Fry, Rowntree, and Cadbury (to which the author, Deborah Cadbury, is an heiress), their European competitors Lindt and Nestlé, and the American upstarts Hershey and Mars—is delightful, especially for its fascinating portrait of the 19th-century success of Quaker capitalism, built quite remuneratively on the ideal that wealth creation entails responsibilities beyond personal gain.”

Booklist, October 1, 2010
“This tale of capitalist rivalry mixed with Quaker values makes for a very sweet journey.”

Washington Post
“This is a delicious book, seductive as a tray of bonbons, a Fancy Box in every way.”

The New Yorker Book Bench
“For chocolate lovers and Roald Dahl fans, some heartening news: Willy Wonka’s factory – or at least something that sounds very much like it – was a real place... Though Cadbury begins with teasingly enviable childhood recollections... the story she tells is really about Quakers, and one family’s continuous struggle to reconcile religious values – pacifism, austerity, sobriety – with the indulgent nature of their product and the ruthlessly competitive capitalism of the world in which they made their fortune... It’s hard not to root for these guys and the story is all the more bittersweet because we know how it ends.”

The Daily Telegraph
“Engaging and scholarly, confident and compassionate, Chocolate Wars is less a family biography than an impressively thought provoking parable for our times... A vibrant history.”

About the Author

Deborah Cadbury is the author of eight acclaimed books, including Chocolate Wars; The Dinosaur Hunters; The Lost King of France; Seven Wonders of the Industrial World, for which her accompanying BBC series received a BAFTA nomination; and Princes at War. As a BBC TV producer and executive producer, she has won numerous international awards, including an Emmy. She lives in London.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 1610390512
Publisher ‏ : ‎ PublicAffairs; Illustrated edition (October 25, 2011)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781610390514
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1610390514
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.96 x 8.5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #414,810 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #101 in Chocolate Baking
- #680 in Company Business Profiles (Books)
- #1,298 in Biographies of Business & Industrial Professionals

Customer Reviews:
231 ratings

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231 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and well-researched, with one noting how it covers the long history of chocolate makers. Moreover, the writing style receives positive feedback, with one customer describing it as written in journalistic style. Additionally, they appreciate the story quality, particularly the fascinating account of the Quaker families and personalities on a mission.

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Interest Readability Writing style Enjoyment History Story quality

23 customers mention "Interest"23 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and well-researched, providing wonderful insights into the history of chocolate makers.

"...It is so very interesting to read of the principles on which the founding fathers based their commercial dealings and the successes they achieved,..." Read more

"A fascinating history of the early chocolate companies in England, why so many of them were led by Quaker families, and how they developed over time...." Read more

"...Well written and researched, the author covers the long history of the Cadbury family and their business at a fast pace and ensures that the reader..." Read more

"...Yet, some interesting information on Nestle, Hershey, Suchard, etc." Read more

18 customers mention "Readability"18 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and well-written, with one customer noting it reads like a great history.

"...It is a book which held my interest throughout and I would recommend it to those who enjoy reading about History and the strong influence of..." Read more

"Book was ok. Obviously, very centered on the Cadbury family...." Read more

"This is an excellent book and I did not know the history of candy could be so interesting...." Read more

"A terrific book. The details in the story line are amazing, and the author’s writing style is relaxing and easy to follow...." Read more

13 customers mention "Writing style"13 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, finding it very well done, with one customer noting it is written in a journalistic style.

"...Wonderfully researched and well written, this is a book for history lovers and chocolate lovers alike. I learned some great things from this book!" Read more

"...the business practices of another era, much lamented. Well written and researched, the author covers the long history of the Cadbury family and..." Read more

"...History coming alive, and that in palatable, legible and enjoyable form." Read more

"...I especially enjoyed the well thought out criticism of how the corporate world of today has stepped back from being led by passionate entrepreneurs..." Read more

10 customers mention "Enjoyment"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book exciting and interesting, with one noting that the reader's interest never lags.

"...and their business at a fast pace and ensures that the reader's interest never lags...." Read more

"...History coming alive, and that in palatable, legible and enjoyable form." Read more

"...The premise of "Chocolate Wars" seemed very exciting; the British version of the all-out business battle for confectionery supremacy... from an..." Read more

"...The author has done a wonderful job of presenting a most fascinating story." Read more

10 customers mention "History"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides a fascinating look into the history of chocolate, with one customer noting it covers more than just the product itself.

"...and well written, this is a book for history lovers and chocolate lovers alike. I learned some great things from this book!" Read more

"The Chocolate Wars, a fascinating look into the history of chocolate and its manufacture into coco and other products and of..." Read more

"Fascinating history of the chocolate industry with a focus on the British families that incorporated their Quaker values into their companies." Read more

"...by Deborah Cadbury Is a wonderful history of the growth and development of chocolate and the process of its becoming popular in the world...." Read more

8 customers mention "Story quality"8 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story quality of the book, particularly its fascinating account of the Quaker families and personalities on a mission.

"...recommend this book to anyone who loves chocolate and a good story about business, creativity and competition...." Read more

"...This type of village for workers is interesting and worked in that time and space...." Read more

"This is the fascinating story of the Quaker families behind the great British confectionary brands, Rowntree, Fry, and, of course, Cadbury, whose..." Read more

"...This is a lovely tale, but it does not fulfill the title "Chocolate Wars"...." Read more

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Sheilab
History and Nostalgia
Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2013
Verified Purchase

I was a high school student in the 60's in the old campus of Camp Hill Grammar School in Birmingham and nostalgically remember the odor of hot chocolate wafting over us from Bournville as we sat in the playground during a lunch break. I organized a final year visit to the factory, when we traveled, in school uniform, to savor the delights of watching the process of chocolate-making (an experience that was unavailable for my own children during the late 70's and early 80's when hygiene regulations forbade the direct presence of outside visitors on the factory floor). After following the process from liquid chocolate vats to the colorful wrapping of the final product we were led into a dining room were we each received a drink of hot cocoa and a tin box full of a variety of chocolates and chocolate biscuits. The box was in the familiar colors of Cadbury’s popular chocolate milk bar.
This book has given me both nostalgic pleasure and an understanding of the history of the development of my favorite “food”.
I was unaware of the Quaker origins of Cadbury’s and other rival companies. It is so very interesting to read of the principles on which the founding fathers based their commercial dealings and the successes they achieved, sometimes despite these ideologies. That Richard Cadbury felt it necessary to disinherit his children in 1914 was influenced by his Quaker upbringing that frowned upon money not earned by one’s own efforts. Much of his life was devoted to alleviating the suffering of the poor and he was one of the first to build cities away from the large towns, offering his workers the opportunity to live in a healthy environment away from their slum dwelling origins. It is disappointing that neither Cadbury’s nor any other British chocolate firm is still UK owned.
It is a book which held my interest throughout and I would recommend it to those who enjoy reading about History and the strong influence of religious principles which impact the direction of commercial development.

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AMorganna99
fascinating read
Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2024
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A fascinating history of the early chocolate companies in England, why so many of them were led by Quaker families, and how they developed over time. Wonderfully researched and well written, this is a book for history lovers and chocolate lovers alike. I learned some great things from this book!

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Gillian Di Vito
A sweet story with a bitter end.
Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2013
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The Chocolate Wars, a fascinating look into the history of chocolate and its manufacture into coco and other products and of
the business practices of another era, much lamented. Well written and researched, the author covers the long history of the Cadbury family and their business at a fast pace and ensures that the reader's interest never lags. Of particular concern for chocolate lovers everywhere, I would also highly recommend this work to all CEO's and heads of business schools in the hope of returning to a kinder, gentler time where workers in manufacturing were the vital and valued partners of the business owner. Read this and cry for the state of manufacture in the world today and the position of the working man and his meager and declining pay versus a head honcho, whose fortunes are measured in the billions of dollars. Whither Cadbury now, following its take-over by Kraft?

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Stanley Weinstein
OK Read
Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2016
Verified Purchase
Book was ok. Obviously, very centered on the Cadbury family. The author bemoans the fact that Kraft purchased Cadbury and thus the company abandoned its Quaker roots/philosophy. Yet, some interesting information on Nestle, Hershey, Suchard, etc.

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Josce Dierschke
Doing Good is Good for Business
Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2011
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Just finished reading Chocolate Wars: The 150-Year Rivalry Between the World's Greatest Chocolate Makers. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves chocolate and a good story about business, creativity and competition.

Chocolate Wars is the story of early chocolatiers and their passion not only for chocolate and the chocolate business, but for the world of man that they lived in. Many of these confectionary pioneers were Quakers and did business with a very different outlook that the corporate world we know today. These Quakers did God's work through chocolate. Families such as Cadbury, Fry, Roundtree and Hershey - all competed with each other in a Quaker way, but more importantly all felt a responsibility to give back to the community. They felt that their businesses existed for more reasons than just to make money.

So the money they did make - and they made a lot of it - went back into the community in the forms of Utopian towns such as Bournville, England and Hershey, PA that offered affordable housing for their workers, sports fields and facilities, social clubs, schools, open areas, and gardens. They built so-called "garden" factories that were out in the fresh air of the country instead of the stifling air of the city.

As Quakers, they were not supposed to accumulate personal wealth and from the beginning their plans always included setting up trusts for charities, reformatories, hospitals, etc., for the less fortunate of society. Back in the 1800s, there were many who were "less fortunate." They were so passionate about these society responsibilities in fact, that they felt much pressure for their businesses to succeed and be profitable because they knew how vital those profits would be for the poor.

George Cadbury Sr. liked to say "doing good...is good for business," and I believe he was right on the money. We've lost that however, and it is sad to note that many of these great chocolate pioneers with their wonderful sense of purpose have now been all but lost to huge multi-nationals. To be fair these massive conglomerates do have departments concerned with giving back, going green, etc. But somehow it is so much less personal than it was for the Quaker chocolate makers. For companies like Kraft and Nestle it is a business decision to "give back", good P.R., if you will. For the Cadburys and Hersheys, the obligation was so much more meaningful - and I dare say, effective.

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Top reviews from other countries

Grahare
Great history on the evolution of business
Reviewed in Australia on December 27, 2023
Verified Purchase

One of the best. Great Insite into the evolution of the corporate world.

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LisaJJ
Lives up to the title!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 9, 2020
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Very fascinating read!! Couldn’t put it down since it came through the letterbox.
It was a very interesting insight to how the ‘simple’ chocolate bar was created and how the early chocolatiers
shaped living in the 19th century.

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Steph
Great history
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 7, 2020
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Great present for the man who thinks he knows everything about chocolate. He had his nose in it for ages.

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Andrew H Cadbury
Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 6, 2018
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An excellent history of the great chocolate firms of the world.

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Amazon Customer
Great service
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 20, 2019
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Great book

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Chocolate Wars: The 150-Year Rivalry Between the World's Greatest Chocolate Makers Paperback – Illustrated, October 25, 2011

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5.0 out of 5 stars History and Nostalgia

4.0 out of 5 stars fascinating read

5.0 out of 5 stars A sweet story with a bitter end.

3.0 out of 5 stars OK Read

5.0 out of 5 stars Doing Good is Good for Business

Top reviews from other countries

5.0 out of 5 stars Great history on the evolution of business

5.0 out of 5 stars Lives up to the title!

5.0 out of 5 stars Great history

5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars

5.0 out of 5 stars Great service

History and Nostalgia

fascinating read

A sweet story with a bitter end.

OK Read

Doing Good is Good for Business

Great history on the evolution of business

Lives up to the title!

Great history

Five Stars

Great service