Review: The emperors of chocolate
Editorial Review - Kirkus ReviewsFormer Washington Post reporter Brenner expands a simple assignment into an inviting visit to candy land, a place dominated by the legacies of two very different corporate dictators. The late Milton Hershey was, reportedly, benevolent and sweet as a Hershey's Kiss; Forrest Mars Sr., obsessed with control and perfection, was not so sugary. Says Brenner: ""where Milton Hershey saw utopia, Forrest Mars saw conquest."" Now their firms are locked in fierce competition for confectionery hegemony. It's not for peanuts. The retail sales value of candy hit $28 billion last year, and Mars and Hershey together control three quarters of the candy rack. M&Ms by Mars produces more dollars than Camel cigarettes, and Hershey's Reese's Peanut Butter Cups outsell Ivory Soap. It's a global industry, secretive and underreported (especially in the case of privately held Mars). Mars, where they taste dog food to ensure quality, is paranoid, and Hershey, to protect manufacturing techniques, no longer conducts factory tours. Well, how would you get an almond inside a Kiss? Brenner tells how. She tells how Reese's Pieces became ""E.T.'s favorite candy."" She tells how cocoa is transformed from pods in the tropics to Milky Ways in the supermarket and why chocolate tastes so good. And she describes the people whose life's calling was and is to create cravings for candy. The 25 pounds of sweets Americans ingest each year provide wholesome energy, they say, never acne or tooth decay. The big rock candy mountains have grown and diversified. They sell pasta and dog food. Mars may earn as much from commodity futures trading as from candy sales. With this text, the industry will be a bit better understood by those who don't read Confectioner magazine. Stock up on Godiva and Goo-Goo Bars and be entertained by this substantial report, without sugar coating, on a surefire topic.
Review: The Emperors of Chocolate: Inside the Secret World of Hershey and Mars
User Review - Kim - GoodreadsThe Chocolate Tale – It's Gripping! Spoiler Alert: There is none! Read this review, and you'll still be able to enjoy the book. I started reading this incredible book by the magnificent Joel Glenn ... Read full review
Review: The Emperors of Chocolate: Inside the Secret World of Hershey and Mars
User Review - Terri - GoodreadsWho wouldn't want to read a book all about chocolate? This book has tons of great stories about the history of chocolate in the United States and the evolution of the candy industry. However the book ... Read full review
Review: The Emperors of Chocolate: Inside the Secret World of Hershey and Mars
User Review - Caitlin - GoodreadsThis book needs a warning label: "Must read with ample supply of chocolate nearby to curb cravings." Read full review
Review: The Emperors of Chocolate: Inside the Secret World of Hershey and Mars
User Review - Kyle - GoodreadsVery interesting book, especially if you are interested in the business/marketing aspects of Mars and Hershey. It was really interesting to read about the differing, yet oddly similar managing and PR ... Read full review
Review: The Emperors of Chocolate: Inside the Secret World of Hershey and Mars
User Review - Samira Kawash - GoodreadsBrenner is the only journalist to gain inside access to the workings at Mars, Inc. A gripping tale of the rise of the kings of the American chocolate industry and their quest for global candy domination. Read full review
Review: The Emperors of Chocolate: Inside the Secret World of Hershey and Mars
User Review - Torrance Public Library - GoodreadsThe real world of chocolate and a tour through the famous names of Hershey and Mars may not have Oompa Loompas, but is fascinating nonetheless! Read full review
Review: The Emperors of Chocolate: Inside the Secret World of Hershey and Mars
User Review - Elise - GoodreadsInteresting read, since Hershey is our lives right now. But as my husband pointed out, a lot has changed since the book was written. It was fun to learn a little more history about the chocolate industry! Read full review
Review: The Emperors of Chocolate: Inside the Secret World of Hershey and Mars
User Review - Christine Cooper - GoodreadsI read this for a book club and found it surprisingly enjoyable. The Mars sections were little harder to get through than the Hershey sections. The current company practices are interesting. But the ... Read full review
Review: The Emperors of Chocolate: Inside the Secret World of Hershey and Mars
User Review - Lenny Husen - GoodreadsOutstanding book, Highly recommend to anyone who likes milk chocolate or lives in Hershey, PA! Fascinating and entertaining. Read full review
