HersheyThat old adage that ends with "try, try again," must have been written with Milton Hershey in mind. The eccentric businessman failed with his confectionery companies so often that his friends thought about having him committed when he suggested a huge new factory in the middle of nowhere. Like Willie Wonka, Hershey dreamed of bringing affordable chocolate to the masses, and to providing a Utopia for his workers. But soon after he opened his company in Hershey, Pa., in 1903, Milton Hershey found huge success. He never lost sight of his plan to give back, though, eventually starting a trust for children that today is valued close to $8 billion. Now that's sweet.
This is a fascinating tale of a man with big dreams and a big heart, who triumphed over failure and tragedy to build an empire.
Chocolate WarsRecognize the author's name? Yes, she is one of "those" Cadburys, a descendant of the famous chocolate makers.
In this engrossing book, she describes the history of Cadbury, founded by a family of Quakers who were determined that their company would reflect their social beliefs, particularly in fighting poverty and ending slavery. Chocolate obviously makes people do good things.
She also looks at the 150-year rivalry between the world's major candy companies – Cadbury, Hershey, Nestle, Mars – a not-so-sweet fight to the top of Big Rock Candy Mountain. Interesting note – a non-candy company won.
Sweet ToothThis book, to be released this May, promises to fill my craving for sweet stuff. Combating a mid-life crisis, author Kate Hopkins embarks on a journey to recapture her sweet youth. Along the way, she walks the reader through the history of confectionery, from its roots as medicine to the dark world of sugar plantations and slavery.
She also offers fun facts about candy, her candid assessment of today's offerings, and the bittersweet idea that big business is quashing smaller confectioneries today.
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