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katykelly's review against another edition
4.0
Great book.
I chose it based on the subject matter (being a chocolate lover!), and not only did I find the history of the Cadbury family compelling and uplifting, but the social history of the other chocolate dynasties was fascinating too.
I learnt more about the history of chocolate from this book than a trip to Cadbury World (unfortunately!)
Who knew you could read a book where you'd keep feeling Nestlé was the bad guy...
The author was obviously biased and did seen to make her family the heroes but they were evidently quite amazing and principled people. I'm very glad to know more about their contributions to Britain and the wider world.
A very interesting and readable biography and history.
I chose it based on the subject matter (being a chocolate lover!), and not only did I find the history of the Cadbury family compelling and uplifting, but the social history of the other chocolate dynasties was fascinating too.
I learnt more about the history of chocolate from this book than a trip to Cadbury World (unfortunately!)
Who knew you could read a book where you'd keep feeling Nestlé was the bad guy...
The author was obviously biased and did seen to make her family the heroes but they were evidently quite amazing and principled people. I'm very glad to know more about their contributions to Britain and the wider world.
A very interesting and readable biography and history.
psyckers's review against another edition
4.0
An excellent book detailing the humble Quaker beginnings of the first Cadbury business in Bounville, England. The book continues with how the business evolves along with its rivals. Innovation, expansion, worker rites are all captured here. The history and the characters involved are all fascinating as the themes in the book are relatable to todays issues of doing business globally.
psyckers's review against another edition
4.0
A fascinating insight in how Chocolate making in Britain started, how it evolved from Quaker ideals to Global multinational companies, and how rivalries and takeovers made the Chocolate business as it is today.
patchworkbunny's review against another edition
4.0
Honestly, I learned so much about British business history from this book, not just about chocolate. The Quakers shaped so much in their short time running some of the most successful firms of the 19th century; Barclays and Lever have humble Quaker roots as well as all the chocolate companies. They were run ethically, with profits being reinvested into their employees or ploughed into charitable causes. Hoarding all your money was seen as sinful.
The book isn’t just about Cadbury, despite being written by a family member. There is probably more of a personal slant and family anecdotes to the sections about them but it covers the rise and fall (or swallowing up by other companies) of Rowntrees, Fry’s of Bristol, Mars, Hershey, Nestle and Lindt. I loved the photos included of all the founders and the early days of chocolate production are just as fascinating as the social history.
The Cadburys also played a part in the social reform of the UK. George bought liberal papers he feared would fall into Tory hands. He was even pragmatic when it came to keeping the gambling news and adverts; removing them would create a high-minded paper that few would read. It was better to educate the masses than be pious.
The creation and evolution of the model village at Bournville is also covered. It seemed like a huge success and it is amazing that it hasn’t really been repeated outside of the chocolate trade (with its anti-capitalism roots). The Cadbury’s were slightly ashamed of their great wealth, it wasn’t very Quaker after all, so they planned to give it away; make the profits benefit the workers. The poor had the chance to rise out of the city slums rather than line the coffers of their employers,
I did think some points were often repeated. I wonder if this is the assumption that people won’t read these sort of books in one go, or even in the right order. It is non-fiction after all, and most of us will know the current states of these chocolate makers.
As I read the final chapters, I began to fume. All my British readers will know of the uproar when Cadbury was sold to Kraft. What I didn’t realise at the time was that no one at Cadbury’s wanted to sell, not even the man at the top. It was a hostile takeover that left a very bad feeling behind. It’s horrifying how little control a successful company has once it’s gone public. The shareholders get their way, and the majority vote comes from short term investors who care only for profit and not the long term success of the company. Poor Cadbury.
And now of course Kraft (or their subsidiary Mondelez, perhaps they are trying to distance themselves) have gone and ruined the Cadbury’s Crème Egg. All because some people wanted to make a quick buck. I have been left with a greater respect for Hershey. I may not like their chocolate, but they held the same values as the British companies and they have managed to fend off the giant conglomerates. If Cadbury and Hershey had merged (Hershey couldn’t afford it at the time of the takeover), I imagine both companies would have kept on as usual.
Overall, a fascinating slice of history we hear little about.
The book isn’t just about Cadbury, despite being written by a family member. There is probably more of a personal slant and family anecdotes to the sections about them but it covers the rise and fall (or swallowing up by other companies) of Rowntrees, Fry’s of Bristol, Mars, Hershey, Nestle and Lindt. I loved the photos included of all the founders and the early days of chocolate production are just as fascinating as the social history.
The Cadburys also played a part in the social reform of the UK. George bought liberal papers he feared would fall into Tory hands. He was even pragmatic when it came to keeping the gambling news and adverts; removing them would create a high-minded paper that few would read. It was better to educate the masses than be pious.
The creation and evolution of the model village at Bournville is also covered. It seemed like a huge success and it is amazing that it hasn’t really been repeated outside of the chocolate trade (with its anti-capitalism roots). The Cadbury’s were slightly ashamed of their great wealth, it wasn’t very Quaker after all, so they planned to give it away; make the profits benefit the workers. The poor had the chance to rise out of the city slums rather than line the coffers of their employers,
I did think some points were often repeated. I wonder if this is the assumption that people won’t read these sort of books in one go, or even in the right order. It is non-fiction after all, and most of us will know the current states of these chocolate makers.
As I read the final chapters, I began to fume. All my British readers will know of the uproar when Cadbury was sold to Kraft. What I didn’t realise at the time was that no one at Cadbury’s wanted to sell, not even the man at the top. It was a hostile takeover that left a very bad feeling behind. It’s horrifying how little control a successful company has once it’s gone public. The shareholders get their way, and the majority vote comes from short term investors who care only for profit and not the long term success of the company. Poor Cadbury.
And now of course Kraft (or their subsidiary Mondelez, perhaps they are trying to distance themselves) have gone and ruined the Cadbury’s Crème Egg. All because some people wanted to make a quick buck. I have been left with a greater respect for Hershey. I may not like their chocolate, but they held the same values as the British companies and they have managed to fend off the giant conglomerates. If Cadbury and Hershey had merged (Hershey couldn’t afford it at the time of the takeover), I imagine both companies would have kept on as usual.
Overall, a fascinating slice of history we hear little about.
hinalovestoread's review against another edition
4.0
So it is 3.75 for me.
This book had been on my TBR for quite a long time (almost a decade) and now I have finally read it. Loved all the tidbits that I read in this book.
As I read a library book, I am sure I will buy myself a copy too.
Also, check out the following instagram posts I made with the book:
Post
Reel
This book had been on my TBR for quite a long time (almost a decade) and now I have finally read it. Loved all the tidbits that I read in this book.
As I read a library book, I am sure I will buy myself a copy too.
Also, check out the following instagram posts I made with the book:
Post
Reel
karen62's review against another edition
4.0
Really interesting, I learned a lot about the Cadburys and Quakers, had no idea there were so many (Quakers) in England or that they started so many well known banks and companies. Cadbury chocolate from England is still one of the best chocolates, US Cadbury doesn't even compare.
meganstreb's review against another edition
4.0
Really interesting story of several Quaker families who made the British chocolate trade in the 19th and 20th centuries. Also covered Nestlé, Hershey, and Mars which provides a contrast. The last 50 years peter out, though.
n3uropath's review against another edition
3.0
A better title would be “Quaker Wars,” given that the Quaker faith is obsessed about on nearly every page. The narrative is engaging and interesting yet obviously biased given the authorship. The book’s fatal flaw, in my view, is how moralizing it is throughout in its treatment of Milton Hershey — taking cheap shots at Hershey’s wife (“Kitty was no Quaker wife”), repeatedly mentioning how he occasionally gambled and smoked cigars, and trying to credit all of Hershey’s charitable works to his admiration for the Quakers. If this was your only exposure to Hershey, you’d think he and his wife were chainsmoking reprobates of questionable character! The book aims high but its biases and other flaws ultimately prevent it from delivering on its potential.
ccallan's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting exploration of a part of the world of Quaker business over the last few centuries. She couldn't quite find a way to tell the tale without each chapter jumping from place to place and family to family, so the whole thing kind of winds up being more about the trees than the forest. (Wait, which cousin was that, and what is a Whirly Curly anyway?) All in all though a great reminder of the fact that business for many is far more than a vehicle for profit, that business can be run to make money and to serve employees and the community as well. Her book documents how it is possible to do so for centuries, and shows what a narrowness of mind and vision it is to only "produce value for the shareholder" while being blind to the effects of business practice on employees, communities, and nations.
hugbandit7's review
3.0
This was a fascinating look into the world of chocolate making - from how it started to all of the companies that were in competition with each other. I was intrigued by how far they went to develop the different types of chocolate we see today. I also didn't know that the Quakers had a strong influence and presence in companies like Cadbury (before it was sold).
I do think there was some information that really could have been left out and parts of the book are slow, but if you want to know how chocolate companies came about then this book will inform you.
I do think there was some information that really could have been left out and parts of the book are slow, but if you want to know how chocolate companies came about then this book will inform you.