Now available in paperback, the extraordinary and dramatic story of the chocolate pioneers -- as told by one of the descendants of the Cadbury dynasty -- ending with Kraft’s recent takeover of the empire.

 

With a cast of characters straight from a Victorian novel, Chocolate Wars tells the story of the great chocolatier dynasties -- the Lindts, Frys, Hersheys, Marses and Nestles -- through the prism of the Cadburys. Chocolate was consumed unrefined and unprocessed as a rather bitter, fatty drink for the wealthy elite until the late 19th century, when the Swiss discovered a way to blend it with milk and unleashed a product that would storm every market in the world.

 

Thereafter, one of the great global business rivalries unfolded as each chocolate maker attempted to dominate its domestic market and innovate recipes for chocolate that would set it apart from its rivals. The contest was full of dramatic contradictions: the Cadburys were austere Quakers who found themselves making millions from an indulgent product; Kitty Hershey could hardly have been more flamboyant, yet her husband was moved by the Cadburys’ tradition of philanthropy. Each company was a product of its unique time and place, yet all of them shared one thing: they want to make the best chocolate in the world.

 

Chocolate Wars divulges the visions and ideals that inspired these royal chocolate families and, above all, the mouth-watering chocolate concoctions they created that have driven a global transformation of one of our favourite treats. And with the recent purchase of Cadbury’s by mega–food manufacturer Kraft, the story is brought rapidly into the present.

Deborah Cadbury is a writer, award-winning documentary producer for the BBC, the author of seven books and a relative of the famous Quaker family that gave its name to one of the world's most famous brands of chocolate.

Deborah Cadbury's profile page

"The story is provocative, a fine business history that puts morality beside profits. And, yes, it is -- I have to say this -- a delicious read."

Financial Post

This tale of capitalist rivalry mixed with Quaker values makes for a very sweet journey.

Booklist

A well-written and well-researched look at chocolate and the Quaker business tradition that any food or history buff will enjoy.

Library Journal

"Cadbury, a former senior producer at the BBC, had access to the family and company archive and tells the chocolate maker's story, from its ethical capitalist beginnings in the 1820s to its controversial takeover by American company Kraft Foods earlier this year."

The Bookseller

"[Chocolate Wars] entertainingly captures the spirit of innovation -- and occasional lobbying and corporate espionage -- that pulled Cadbury from the brink of disasterÖThrough the 20th century, the British companies were challenged not just by European companies but American juggernauts like Hershey and Mars, and Cadbury has a knack for capturing the driven personalities who launched these empiresÖA fine pocket history of corporate confectionery."

Kirkus Reviews

"Deborah Cadbury['s]...portrayal of [her ancestor's] 'principled capitalism' is quite convincing. Similarly worthy is her account of the evolution of cocoa, which first arrived in Europe in the 1500s as a thick, oily beverage."

Macleans

"This is a delicious book, seductive as a tray of bonbons, a Fancy Box in every way."

Washington Post

"Chocolate Wars charts the intense passion and intrigue behind the transformation of chocolate. This is an enthralling tale of the determined men behind the world's great chocolate companies, and their changing business values -- from benevolent Quaker capitalism, to modern hedge funds. You will never look at a chocolate bar the same way again."

Jennifer McLagan, author of "Fat" and "Bones"