Chocolate Wars cover art

Chocolate Wars

From Cadbury to Kraft: 200 years of Sweet Success and Bitter Rivalry

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Chocolate Wars

By: Deborah Cadbury
Narrated by: Finty Williams
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About this listen

READ BY FINTY WILLIAMS. The delicious true story of the early chocolate pioneers by the award-winning writer, and direct descendant of the famous chocolate dynasty, Deborah Cadbury

In 'Chocolate Wars' bestselling historian and award-winning documentary maker Deborah Cadbury takes a journey into her own family history to uncover the rivalries that have driven 250 years of chocolate empire-building.

Beginning with an account of John Cadbury, who founded the first Cadbury's coffee and chocolate shop in Birmingham in 1824, 'Chocolate Wars' goes on to chart the astonishing transformation of the company's fortunes under his grandson George. But while the Cadbury dynasty is the fulcrum of the narrative, this is also the story of their Quaker rivals, the Frys and Rowntrees, and their European competitors, the Nestles, Suchards and Lindts. These rivalries drove the formation of the huge chocolate conglomorates that still straddle the corporate world today, and have first call on our collective sweet tooth.

This is narrative history at its most absorbing, peopled by wonderfully colourful characters – the true story of the chocolate pioneers, the visions and ideals that inspired them and the mouth-watering concoctions they created.

©2010 Deborah Cadbury (P)2010 HarperCollins Publishers Limited Europe Great Britain War England Inspiring Heartfelt Thought-Provoking Imperialism Africa Capitalism

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Critic reviews

‘A wonderful writer who keeps you turning the pages as if her book was a thriller’ The Times

‘Absolutely stupendous. This is history as it should be. It is stunningly written. I could not put it down’ Alison Weir

‘Beautifully structured and sympathetically narrated… successfully brings together science, suspense and sentiment. Something for everyone’ Miranda Seymour, Sunday Times

‘A stylish writer [who] describes the splendours and miseries of these wonders in their true colours and with understanding of the ethics and aspirations of their times’ New Scientist

‘Fascinating… heroes, villains and victims populate this gripping story’ Daily Telegraph
All stars
Most relevant  
As a card carrying chocoholic I found this book to be a really enjoyable story of the Cadbury family and, to a lesser extent, the early Quaker dominance of chocolate manufacture in England. I almost felt it a patriotic duty to buy Cadbury's after listening.

There is a certain quality of Finty Williams' voice that makes her the perfect narrator for this book. Her voice by turns has the soft snap and the velvety smoothness of the finest chocolate. She reads like she's enjoying it too. Superb.

Choco delights

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At first I though this audio book would be more genealogy and family folk tales. I is to some extent, but as the book progresses, it becomes about politics and big business. By the end I was questioning my shopping habits and feel I have a better idea about the food I place in my shopping cart, not just chocolate. Probably the best book I've downloaded from Audible for some time.

Know who supplies your food

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So much more than the chocolate wars, this book is full of great ingredients for entrepreneurial inspiration, of trial and error and resilience and of course secret chocolate recipes . Lots here as well for business students on ethics, CSR , creating shared value and principled capitalism and all applied to what was a great family business.
Excellently narrated and with a tragic ending.

Principled capitalism with chocolate

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I admit to having a small incline as to what the book would be about, but having listened to it it was far more enlightening and interesting. I suppose the most enlightening part was the Quaker influence in the chocolate industry in the UK, and their business practices influencing ethics for many others worldwide.
I'm not at all religious, but we could all learn a thing or two from the Quaker ideals.

the other thing that struck me was that there are exact parallels in struggles within society during the Victorian era as there are now, we seem to be going back in time, only to repeat the same mistakes.

A world of corporate dominance appears to hold nothing but hardship for many ordinary people.

An excellent, if surprisingly interesting book!

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I purchased this book simply because I knew a little of the history. I have worked in three Quaker businesses and for Mars. I was aware of the links between them but this wonderful book has given me more insight into this great British business. Such a shame that it is no longer British owned. A really really good listen with beautiful detail and heart warming tales of how man should care for his fellows, of how businesses should care for their staff. Simply excellent.

Chocolate review

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A very interesting and well researched book, giving the history not only of Cadbury's but of the whole history of chocolate

Excellent

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A wonderfully written account of a remarkable family and time in our history. George Cadbury Snr should be held up, not just as model business man, but as an astounding human being.

Flinty Williams fabulous reading of this book enhances the depth and warmth of Deborah Cadbury's writing as she draws incredibly detailed accounts of the development of cocoa as a product and the businesses behind it. She portrays the Quaker Movement clearly without any romanticism siting its impacts and its failings.

Just like the Cadbury & Rowntree Foundations that remain today she and her book very much punch above their weight. A fantastic read.

An astounding piece of history

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A well researched book giving a great insight into the history of the companies behind chocolate

Great listen.

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Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes
particularly for the description of the Godly lifestyle of the original Quarters.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The sale of Cadbury to Kraft - an injustice.

Any additional comments?

I would like to ask the author for more info as to why Cadbury went public and thus eventually became a target for a hostile takeover. They were doing Ok as a private company, why not stay that way ?.

An interesting History

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I loved the story but not as a person of religion it wasn't always my area but I can see the messages the book shows and it should be told to many more to show how as humans we can do and be more

a sweet story that needs to be told

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