Food Industries of Europe in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries

Derek J. Oddy is Emeritus Professor of Economic and Social History, University of Westminster, UK and Alain Drouard is Honorary Director of Research, National Centre for Scientific Research, University of Paris-Sorbonne, Paris, France.

• Contents: Preface; Introduction, Derek J. Oddy; Part I The Origins and Growth of Industrial Organization: Pioneering spadework in the history of the German food industry during the 19th and early 20th centuries: beet sugar, wheat starch and health foods, Karl-Peter Ellerbrock and Hans-Jürgen Teuteberg; Vinegar and sugar: the early history of factory-made jams, pickles and sauces in Britain, Peter J. Atkins; Rural capitalism: the Société des Caves de Roquefort, from c. 1840 to1914, Sylvie Vabre; Modernizing the Mediterranean olive-oil industry, 1850s-1930s, Ramon Ramon-Muñoz. Part II Creating New Foods: ’The biggest chocolate factory in the world’: the Menier chocolate factory in Noisiel, Alain Drouard; 'Czech chocolate is the best!' Nationalism in the food industry in the Czech lands around the year 1900, Martin Franc; Margarine in competition with butter in Germany (1872-1933): the example of Van den Bergh’s margarine factory in Kleve, Sabine Merta; The nutritional transformation of Danish pork, 1887-1960, Tenna Jensen; The rise of the frozen-fish industry in Iceland and Norway: the case of fish fingers, Gudmundur Jónsson and Örn Jónsson. Part III The Effect of Food Technology on Consumption Patterns: Food labelling and packaging in the Dutch food industry: persuading and informing consumers, 1870s-1950s, Adel P. den Hartog; Promoting packaging and selling self-service: the rapid modernization of the Swedish food retail trade, Jenny Lee and Ulrike Torell; Food preservation in Flemish women’s magazines, 1945-1960, Anneke Geyzen; The growth of bread consumption among Romanian peasants, 1950-1980, Lucian Scrob; From roast beef to chicken nuggets: how technology changed meat consumption in Britain in the 20th century, Derek J. Oddy; The European food industries in perspective, Derek J. Oddy; Index.

’This volume provides a compelling array of case studies on the evolution of the European food industry. What adds particular value and depth to the book are the discussions on the changing role of diet and technological innovation coupled with successful entrepreneurship in the creation of small companies, from which emerged some of the leading global food conglomerates.’ Jonathan Baker, University of Agder, Norway ’This book provides a fascinating account of the development of various food industries in Europe, from bread to chocolate, that have increased food availability, eliminating hunger and famines. But the huge variety of foods and products has led to new problems in nutrition - obesity, diabetes, lack of cooking skills, and the reduction of regional food patterns and use of whole foods.’ Catherine Geissler, King’s College London, UK ’An excellent interpretive commentary introducing this wide-ranging illuminating collection skilfully contextualizes fourteen diverse studies exploring national and thematic aspects of the transition from subsistence crises of the biological ancient regime to complex systems of food supply and distribution in the 20th century. Major themes include industrial and business organization, food product innovation, and the effect of new technology.’ Roy Church, University of East Anglia, UK 'One of the most innovative essays in the volume examines how packaging technology revolutionized the shopping environment in Sweden during the 1950s. Jenny Lee and Ulrika Torell trace the origins of Tetra Pak ...'. Journal of Historical Geography