Emperors of Chocolate
by Joel Glenn Brenner
Mentioned once across 1 show · first heard Dec 2025 on Acquired.
The general take
David Rosenthal calls Emperors of Chocolate "so good," highlighting it as a standout book that interweaves the parallel histories of Hershey and Mars. He found it compelling enough to recommend it on the show alongside his earlier coverage of the Mars company.
About
Corporate candy giants Milton Hershey and Forrest Mars built business empires out of one of the world's most magical, sought-after substances: chocolate. In The Emperors of Chocolate , Joël Glenn Brenner--the first person to ever gain access to the highly secretive companies of Hershey and Mars--spins a unique story that takes us inside a world as mysterious as Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. Packed with flavorful stories and outrageous characters that give the true scoop on this real-life candyland, The Emperors of Chocolate is a delectable read for business buffs and chocoholics alike. Start reading and you'll soon be hungry for more.
Who said what
David Rosenthal👍 Recommends
…david's book carveout about chocolate industry history
“My two are—first one is a reach back to December of last year with the Mars episode, Emperors of Chocolate by Joel Glenn Brenner. It's so good. So it's the dual history of Hershey and Mars together.”
Acquired — 10 Years of Acquired (with Michael Lewis)at 2:33:35
Listener reviews
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