Diane Wordsworth

In 1824, John Cadbury opened a grocer’s shop in Bull Street in Birmingham and started to sell tea, coffee, and drinking chocolate. In 1831, he opened a factory and started to manufacture his own product, and by 1842 the company was selling almost 30 different types of drinking chocolate and cocoa. In 1861, the now floundering firm was taken over by two of his sons, Richard and George, who turned things around and continued to grow the company into the organization we see today. This biography looks at the history and background behind the socialist, philanthropist, and chocolatier.… (mais)

I received this book through the publisher via Netgalley.

Cadbury chocolates are a source of fond memories for me, especially my beloved Cadbury cream eggs each spring. Therefore, I was keenly interested in finding out more about the company behind my childhood delights--but also approached the book with a measure of caution. Would this be mere company propaganda, and/or a dry and boring read?

While the book is positive about Cadbury, it also doesn't shy away from old and new controversies--and never is it boring. I found it to be fascinating all the way through, with the text throughout embellished by great photographs and Cadbury product artwork. I only recently read that the chocolate industry in the northern British city of York was started by Quakers in the 19th century--and lo and behold, Cadbury was likewise started by a Quaker family. They brought their values to their business as well, which in many ways was positive--providing fair wages, reasonable work hours, and compassion that seems almost strange in the era, such as letting female workers wait in a heated dressing room and then signalling them when their train arrived. Cadbury even created its own company town, Bournville. However, there were also restrictions such as not letting married women work full time--home was where they belonged--and enforcing prayers and swim lessons for all employees.

The Cadburys were heavily involved in the abolition of the slave trade, but rightly endured some criticism in the early years of the 20th century when they discovered that the native labor on their cocoa plantations in San Thome and Principe could only be described as slavery. The firm tried to follow proper channels to remedy the situation--going through the Portuguese government--only to be outright lied to. Unfortunately, this only became evident after years had passed.

The book provides actual documentation from the time period on this episode, as well as many fascinating descriptions of working for Cadbury, as told by decades-long employees. It also talks briefly about the recent aggressive takeover by the American company Kraft and how the assets have since been divided and altered.

I recommend this book not just for people who've enjoyed Cadbury's products, but anyone with an interest in 19th and early 20th-century history and labor practices. Cadbury did a lot right and that's undoubtedly a major reason why they are still around today.… (mais)

A History of Cadbury
by Sir Dominic Cadbury & Diane Wordsworth
due 5-31-2019
Pen & Sword
4.0 / 5.0

In 1824, after spending a year in London studying retailing and tea dealing, John Cadbury joined the family business,by starting his own business as a warehouse in Birmingham, England selling Fine Teas, Spices, Coffee and Cocoa. The stores biggest seller was tea. Slowly the process of extracting butter from the chocolate, making it edible and naming it Cadbury´s Cocoa Essence. By 1842, Cadbury had more than 30 different types of drinking chocolate and cocoa; by 1897 they had manufactured the first chocolate bar.
The Cadburys believed a happy and healthy worker is more productive and took measures to ensure his workers stayed healthy and were one one of the first to offer health and dental care, a pension fund, and eventually built entire villages, with playgrounds, schools, and churches and by 1930 had 2000 homes he gave to employees. The Cadburys loved the idea of integration and would build expensive homes next door to a low income property. One of the most important things was Johns Quaker beliefs and believed in abstinence, promoting chocolate as an alternative to alcohol.

As time went on, some began to see Cadburys vision of a village not as an inclusive and healthy idea, but as bigoted, controlling and patriarchal. Workers were forced to attend educational classes, had to learn to swim and participate in sports. Only single women were employed and morning prayers were mandatory and every morning. I guess its all in the hands of the beholder.

This was such an educational book, and was fascinating look at a company that was ahead of its time. Reading of the history and culture really helped bring the story to life.

Thanks to Pen and Sword for sharing an ebook ARC for review.
#AHistoryOfCadbury #netgalley… (mais)