Ganong: A Sweet History of Chocolate [Hardcover]

David Folster (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 27, 2006

Nothing says love like a box of delectable chocolates. And selling love is how Ganong, famous for its century-old Delecto brand, became one of the world’s leading candy-makers. Ganong: A Sweet History of Chocolate is an illustrated history of the family and its business, from its humble beginnings in St. Stephen, New Brunswick to its current niche in a world dominated by super-sized conglomerates. For more than 130 years, the company has amassed an impressive list of firsts: it concocted the first All-day Sucker, the five-cent chocolate nut bar, and that Maritime Christmas favourite — the Chicken Bone. Ganong was one of the first companies to sell boxed chocolates, and it was the first company in Canada to use the heart-shaped chocolate box, first for Christmas and later for Valentine’s Day. Along with the colour reproductions of many of Ganong’s packaging and marketing materials from days gone by, author David Folster has selected a rich array of archival photographs of the original Ganong factory (now a retail outlet and museum) and the many loyal employees who have contributed to the sweet success of this company.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Ganong: A Sweet History of Chocolate is the lusciously illustrated story of a family-owned company that rediscovered its niche in a world dominated by huge corporations. In 1873, James Ganong persuaded his brother Gilbert to open a tiny grocery store in St. Stephen, New Brunswick. Since then, five generations of Ganongs have transformed that fledgling business into one of the world’s leading candy-makers. Creators of the all-day sucker, chicken bones, and the five-cent chocolate nut bar, Ganong pioneered streetcar posters, collector cards, and exquisite full-page magazine ads. They cheered up Depression-era sweethearts with the heart-shaped chocolate box, and their sturdy “soldier’s box” sent a sweet taste of home overseas in two world wars. Delecto chocolates have been Canadian favourites for a full century, the boxes becoming treasures in themselves. Photographs of colourful memorabilia and of the candy-making process over the years make Ganong: A Sweet History of Chocolate a showcase of this venerable company’s storied history.

From the Back Cover

Creators of the all-day sucker, chicken bones, and the five-cent chocolate nut bar, Ganong Brothers pioneered streetcar posters, collector cards, and exquisite chocolate boxes and advertising as appetizing as their famous chocolates. Photographs of colourful memorabilia and of the candy-making process over the years make Ganong: A Sweet History of Chocolate a rich showcase of this venerable company’s storied history.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 136 pages
• Publisher: Goose Lane Editions; No edition edition (October 27, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0864924801
• ISBN-13: 978-0864924803
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,430,966 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enthusiastically recommended reading!, January 3, 2007

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ganong: A Sweet History of Chocolate (Hardcover)

James and Gilbert Ganong opened their grocery story in 1873 and found that candy was a best selling, motivating them to invent what would eventually be more than 1100 different kinds of chocolates and confections, making them one of the world's leading candy-makers. "Ganong: A Sweet History Of Chocolate" is a wonderfully illustrated and fascinatingly presented history of the Ganong family and their business from its humble beginnings in St. Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada, down to its present international status as a unique niche candy-maker in a world dominated by super-sized conglomerates. For the past 133 years, Ganong's chocolates have earned a number of 'firsts' that include the first All-Day Sucker, the five-cent chocolate nut bar, and that Maritime Christmas favorite - the Chicken Bone. They were the first company in Canada to use the heart-shaped chocolate box, first for Christmas, and then for Valentine's Day. Profusely illustrated throughout, "Ganong: A Sweet History Of Chocolate" is an inherently fascinating account of five generations of Ganongs who have worked in the family factory (still located in St. Stephen) and enthusiastically recommended reading!