Story of KitKat and Rowntree’s of York revealed in new book

A NEW book shines the light on the legendary York company that brought us the KitKat – and how it survived crisis after crisis along the way.

Rowntree’s – The Early History has been written by Paul Chrystal.

The book charts the fascinating story behind the birth and development of Rowntree’s.

The Rowntree family, especially Henry and his younger Joseph Rowntree, is, along with Fry’s, Cadbury’s, Mars and Terry’s, synonymous with the birth and growth of the chocolate industry in Britain.

Rowntree’s book by Paul Chrystal

The book explores the rise of Rowntree’s through chapters on the early history of the company, contemporary York, the relationship between Quakers and chocolate, and the Tuke family – without whom there would have been no Rowntree’s, and no KitKats.

Henry, it is usually forgotten, was the founder of Rowntree’s – he made the momentous decision to sign the deal with the Tukes and, in the book, we join him in those very early days of the fledgling company.

Henry Rowntree

Readers will see how he helped it through some very dark, and sometimes humorous, times in what was then a very shambolic set up – cash strapped and making it up as the company lurched from crisis to crisis.

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It was Joseph, his elder brother, who became the driving force to eventual global success, mixing his hectic business life with acts of compassion and a benevolent management model.

All of this paved the way for decent wages, pensions, insurance and mutual respect in the workplace.

York’s Pavement in the late 19th century showing the Rowntree’s grocer shop

Charity work extended beyond the factories to lift workers and others out of the slums of York to a life in a healthy model village called New Earswick, to provide a good social life, green spaces and gardens, swimming pool and education for children and adults.

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The book also examines Joseph’s relentless industrial espionage, the effect on the Rowntree’s of the Irish Potato Famine, racism, lethal exploding bananas, the advances in chocolate production methods and 20th century rivals in the domestic and export markets, and mergers and acquisitions.

Promoting Rowntree’s on the river. Photo supplied

Rowntree’s active role in the two world wars is also covered along with the struggle Joseph Rowntree had accepting the importance of advertising which competitors were exploiting to the full.

Altogether the book gives fascinating biographies of two exceptional and driven brothers who came together to form one of our greatest companies – producing some of our best loved confectionery products.

The book can be purchased directly through Pen & Sword and major bookshops, priced at £15.99.

Fun KitKat facts

The world-famous chocolate bar was first made in York in 1935.

Today, the York factory makes up to four million KitKat bars every day.

It is available in more than 85 countries and with more than five billion bars sold annually, KitKat is Nestlé’s leading confectionery brand.