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
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 didn't have much hope that the book or audiobook is any good considering going the topic and length of it. However, it is indeed a history lesson of chocolate in Europe and the US. Focus is mainly on Cadbury of course but also goes into Nestlé,herschey and the like. The performance is also engaging and can be listened to at 2x speed without any problems

Great chocolate history lesson

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Reads like a novel, this is a remarkable story of visionary Quaker businessmen and how they helped shape and build British industry. And the sad tales of what happens when values are lost to the relentless quest for shareholder value at all costs. Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys business books that are stories rather than textbooks.

Excellent piece of British business history

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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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I was surprised at how very interesting this book was, especially the pre-war bit. I was very bored by the last hour and a half about markets and shares etc, but that's just me. The narrator of this story has a lovely, velvety voice that is very easy to listen to.

Who'd have thought?

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