When Wallop became Wonka
Now don’t be greedy: Harry Wallop at the Nestle factory in Halifax
To many Debbie Clarke has the best job in the world: she is a confectionery taster. Every day she gets to eat lots of sweets and mark down on her clipboard whether they have passed her tests or not.
And then the next day she comes back to the factory in Halifax and eats some more.
But for her this simple joy is a Dantesque hell. The orange creams and the penny toffees swim before her eyes as if they were floating on the River Styx. “It gets really annoying. Every morning we argue which one of us has to do it.”
She says her children all want to do her job, but she would yelp with relief if she never had to nibble on an eclair again.
Part of the problem is that she specialises in testing Quality Street, a line of sweets that has been going – as of next month – for 75 years, making it one of the most enduring confectionery brands in Britain, part of a pantheon of consumer goods products that have been devoured by our parents, as well as our grandparents.
In that time an astonishing 134 billion foil-wrapped sweets have been made by Quality Street. That is the equivalent of more than one sweet for every human being that has ever walked the face of the earth – a fact almost as beautiful and incomprehensible as a walnut whip.
The owners may have changed – Mackintosh, then Rowntree, now Nestlé – but the sweets have continued to tumble down the line at the factory in Yorkshire. And each day Debbie has to try them.
Some mornings she can get away with eating just 10 sweets. But yesterday it was 26. “And each one is 50 calories; it’s like eating a full evening meal.”
Debbie may despair, but she is a crucial part of Britain’s economy. It will not be financial services or semi-conducters that prevent us falling back into another recession. It will be manufacturing, especially food processing – the country’s biggest manufacturing industry by far.
I’ve come up to Yorkshire – the only place that can challenge Birmingham, home of the mighty Cadbury, for the title of the world’s chocolate capital – to discover why we continue to munch our way through £3.66 billion of chocolate confectionery every year, despite our wallets being squeezed and the prices of sugar and cocoa jumping. I’ve also come to see if I can “taste” some free sweets.
The wrapping and shapes of the sweets are immediately recognisable, even when viewed moving along a production line that stretches not just to the end of the vast factory, but far up and above my head. Vast hoppers of gold fingers and oblongs of blue are being sped along by forklift trucks, while the whole cavernous building is filled with the unmistakable and euphoric smell of caramel and glistening, liquid chocolate.
It’s impossible not to morph into the gluttonous Augustus Gloop from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I have the urge to reach in to every container and grab handfuls of sweets. When I mention this to my guides, they look horrified and remind me of the strict health and safety forms I signed. Curses.
I ask Heather, who is carefully sliding trays of 100 unwrapped triangles on to a line, what would happen if she were ever to pop one in her mouth. “I’d be shot,” she says. I think she’s joking, but I’m not sure.
Either it’s the smell, or the speed of production, but soon I am hypnotised by caramel swirls being wrapped by a nifty gadget at a rate of 439 a minute. A digital panel keeps track of the furious pistoning of the machine, as a blur of brown chocolate meets a whir of gold wrapping.
Mechanised packaging was the key to Quality Street’s success. Only when “twist-wrapping machines” were invented in the 1920s was it possible to provide cheap chocs for the masses.
Quality Street has some claim to being instrumental in fostering Britain’s addiction to cheap milk chocolate, jointly with Terry’s, its fellow Yorkshire manufacturer. Until then, Mackintosh, which had been making toffees since the dying days of Victoria’s reign, had failed to break into the more lucrative chocolate market.
Alex Hutchinson, the company’s archivist explains: “Until the 1930s, chocolate was incredibly expensive, something that only the upper-middle classes could afford.” Individual chocolates were sold in “fancy boxes”, elaborate packaging that cost just as much as the contents and which contained exotic, expensive ingredients shipped in from around the world: vanilla, cane sugar, ginger and cocoa.
Toffees, in contrast, were made from cheap home-grown ingredients: milk, beet sugar and eggs, and were marketed to factory workers.
Mackintosh had the idea of covering the toffees in desirable chocolate – making the chocolate go further and the toffees more interesting. Putting them in a brightly coloured, cheap box, they created a hit.
Half the original sweets have remained the same since the birth of Quality Street in 1936, including the green praline triangle, the toffee penny and the one universally known as “the purple one” (though brazil nuts were replaced with hazelnuts after the Second World War).
Analysts at Mintel have suggested that the reason we continue to pop sweets like pills during the recession is because they are the last luxury you ditch when money is tight. Many people have stopped eating out, leaving families to comfort themselves in front of the telly with a box of chocolates.
I eventually get my hands on some – by the bucketful – when we move from the factory floor to the development kitchen presided over by the company’s two confectioners, real-life Willy Wonkas. I discover that they made all the chocolates that were consumed in the 2005 film, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, staring Johnny Depp. (In a typically ruthless move, Nestlé even snapped up the rights to the trade name Willy Wonka.)
Here there are warm tankards of melted chocolate – one of KitKat chocolate, one of Quality Street chocolate. I am encouraged to try them. The KitKat one is distinctly different, richer, sweeter – pure liquid KitKat. Before long, I am gulping it down.
Vikki Geall, the chief Willy Wonka, is another employee who can live without chocolate. “You get sick of it. Everything we make we have to taste and we eat far too much. At home I crave savoury food.”
My chocolate-covered notebook suggests I ignored her words of wisdom and carried on munching. A nibble here, a chunk there. I was meant to be making purple ones with Vikki, but my piping of caramel was pretty shoddy, distracted by yet more gulps of chocolate. Before long I reach the point that most chocolate workers reach after a month or so in the industry – satiety. In fact, I go beyond that. And when I get home I bury my head in some salad and vow never to eat another sweet again.
But, let’s face it, my new-found restraint is unlikely to last long – and even if it did my small act of self-denial would be statistically irrelevant in the face of the 67 million Quality Street sweets made each and every week. Clearly I’m not the only one with an appetite like Augustus Gloop.
Films - CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' is a tale about an eccentric chocolatier, Willy Wonka, and Charlie, a good-hearted boy from a poor family who lives in the shadow of Wonka's extraordinary factory. Long isolated from his own family, Wonka launches a worldwide contest to select an heir to his candy empire. Five lucky children, including Charlie, draw golden tickets from Wonka chocolate bars and win a guided tour of the legendary candy-making facility that no outsider has seen in fifteen years. Dazzled by one amazing sight after another, Charlie is drawn into Wonka's fantastic world.Hide Full Review >>
Unlike the fluffed-up 1971 original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, director Tim Burton puts a decidedly quirkier and darker spin on his highly stylized and brightly coloured Charlie & the Chocolate Factory adaptation. In other words, there are very few warm and fuzzy moments--and that's OK.
Story
Burton wanted this Charlie to be strictly by the book--Roald Dahl's classic children's book, that is. We meet Charlie Bucket (Freddie Highmore), a young boy, who--despite living in deep poverty with his parents (Helena Bonham Carter and Noah Taylor) and both pair of grandparents--has a very positive outlook on life. His biggest dream is to meet famed chocolatetier Willy Wonka (Johnny Depp) and go inside his great chocolate factory, a voluminous structure that looms over Charlie's little town. Even though great quantities of chocolate are still being made and shipped all over the world, it's shrouded in mystery. No one has either gone in or come out of the factory in 15 years. But that's all about to change. Wonka announces he'll invite five lucky children to his factory--to get ''all of its secrets and magic''--by hiding five golden tickets inside his chocolate bars. The ones who find the tickets get to come. And as luck would have it, Charlie finds the last golden ticket. Taking his Grandpa Joe (David Kelly) along with him, Charlie is dazzled by one amazing sight after another, Oompa Loompas and all, as he tries to warm up to the enigmatic Wonka. The others turn out to be a rotten bunch of gluttonous, spoiled, competitive, know-it-all children, whose greedy personalities lead them into all kinds of trouble. That leaves only the sweet Charlie, who wins the absolute grandest prize of all: the keys to the factory itself. But will he abandon his family for all that chocolaty fame? Not a chance.
Acting
Although Burton and Depp have made three movies together so far--Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood and Sleepy Hollow--Burton admits Charlie & the Chocolate Factory was the first time he didn't have to beg the studio execs to let him cast the inscrutable actor. That's because Depp's equally unusual but highly successful Oscar turn as Capt. Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean finally changed those Hollywood mucky mucks' minds. Doesn't matter to Depp, though; he's going to keep doing what he wants. And it looks like he is having the time of his life playing the infamous Willy Wonka. Rather than infusing the character with a kind wisdom, like Gene Wilder did in the original, Depp's Wonka is more like the book's version: childish, mischievous, standoffish and even a tad klutzy. He's a fellow who certainly listens to a different drummer. In other words, Depp. The rest of the adults in the movie obviously pale in comparison, except perhaps Indian actor Deep Roy, who gets to play all the Oompa Loompas. What fun that must have been, especially in performing the film's only musical numbers. As far as the kids go, Highmore, who also starred with Depp in Finding Neverland, is quite endearing as Charlie. The rest of the relatively unknown children also do a fine job, albeit a bit more snotty and unfazed than the original set. You know, kinda like how kids are these days.
Direction
Here's the burning question that seems to be applying to many a film these days: why mess with a classic? The 1971 Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is certainly an undeniable gem, a mixture of Technicolour, elaborate sets and music that, with the engaging Gene Wilder in the lead, leaves a sweet and indelible impression. Is there really a need for another version? Tim Burton thinks so since he didn't really like the original at all. Burton's idea was to make a worthy version of Dahl's darker novel, plain and simple. When he signed to make a Charlie redo, he even forbade the writer, John August, who hadn't ever seen Willy Wonka, from watching it, lest it would cloud his judgment. Burton accomplishes what he set out to do. Charlie captures Dahl's tone succinctly--wildly imaginative, slightly off-centred with a moral centre but certainly more mean-spirited than 1971 version. And, of course, in the hands of a technically proficient director, Charlie is also a marvel of sights and sounds. Burton spared no expense with his luscious sets, multicoloured costumes, Oompa Loompas and lots and lots of rich, creamy chocolate. Yummy. While some may miss Willy Wonka's magical qualities, others may feel a need to run to the concession stand and grab some Snow Caps.
Bottom Line
This slightly more malicious Charlie & the Chocolate Factory may have lost some of the original's wonderment. But coming from the fertile and creative mind of Tim Burton, it is still a marvellous confectionary delight, especially to those who like a darker chocolate.
'Willy Wonka' in town now
POTTSTOWN — "Willie Wonka Jr.," an updated musical version of Roald Dahl's timeless children's novel "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," will be presented at 7 p.m. today and 3 and 7 p.m. Sunday at the Tri-County Performing Arts Center, 245 E. High St.Lisa Uliasz is stage director for the production by students of the Tri-PAC Performing Arts Summer Camp.
Richard Oberholtzer is musical director.
Cast members include Julia Maenza, Mike Styer, Jordan Hicks, Aslan Berbaum, Wyeth Casperite, Cassandra Marks, Aiden Quigley, Lindsay Lohr, Tiana Gallagher, Nathan Bunyon, Hannah Paczkowski, Emi Aungst, Brad Heinzinger, Tim Turner, Anna Lavelle, Sebastian Coates, Olivia Zitkus, Annie Stockmal, Sarah Bauer and Madison Wingert.
And, Amanda Murray, Lauren Bergen, Cassie Wells, Taylor Ruffo, Kendall Bowden, Madison Kershner, Rachel Julian, JT Clark, Rikki Etter, Kyraen Bittner and Lauren Dougherty.
Original ‘Willy Wonka’ Kids To Reunite At Wizard World Chicago Comic Con
t will be a “scrumdiddlyumptious” gathering when the five child stars from the original Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory reunite 40 years after the release of the now classic film at Wizard World Chicago Comic Con at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, August 11-14. Peter Ostrum (“Charlie Bucket”), Paris Themmen (“Mike Tee Vee”), Julie Dawn Cole (“Veruca Salt”), Denise Nickerson (“Violet Beauregard”) and Michael Boellner (“Augustus Gloop”) will appear together for an extremely rare reunion, joining more than 500 celebrities and artists at the event, which will bring together thousands of fans of all ages to celebrate the best in pop-fi, pop culture, movies, graphic novels, comics, toys, video gaming, television, sci-fi, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more.The original 1971 film, based on Roald Dahl’s book and screenplay, told the story of five children who won the opportunity to tour the fictional, world famous Wonka Chocolate Factory after finding a “golden ticket” in packages of Wonka chocolate. The poor but extremely good-hearted Charlie is joined by the other four, whose quirks have made them among the most memorable characters ever as the film has achieved cult status. All-time greats Gene Wilder, who played the eccentric Wonka, and Jack Albertson, who portrayed Charlie’s beloved Grandpa Joe, starred in the feature roles.
“This is a truly unique opportunity to meet the five child actors who helped make Willy Wonka such a classic movie,” said Gareb Shamus, Wizard World CEO. “It is these kinds of once-in-a-lifetime events that make Wizard World shows so interesting and exciting for fans of all ages.”
The five will be among such other distinguished celebrities at Chicago Comic Con as Patrick Stewart, Bruce Campbell, Christopher Lloyd, Morena Baccarin, Felicia Day, Anthony Michael Hall, Academy Award Winner® Lou Gossett Jr. and James Marsters.
Chicago Comic Con is the seventh stop on Wizard World’s 2011 North American tour. Hours are Thursday, August 11, 5 – 9 p.m.; Friday, August 12, noon – 8 p.m.; Saturday, August 13, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.; and Sunday, August 14, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tickets are available in advance online at http://www.wizardworld.com/chicago.html at a savings over tickets purchased at the door. Advance adult single-day tickets are priced at $25 ($35 on site); four-day all-session tickets are $50 ($60 on site), and tickets are free for children age 10 and under when accompanied by a paid adult (limit two children per adult). VIP packages with special entry and exclusive items are also available on a limited basis.
About Wizard World:
Wizard World produces Comic Cons and pop culture conventions across North America that celebrate graphic novels, comic books, movies, TV shows, gaming, technology, toys and social networking. The events often feature celebrities from movies and TV, artists and writers, and events such as premieres, gaming tournaments, panels, and costume contests. Wizard World also produces Wizard World Digital, an online publication covering new and upcoming products and talents in the pop culture world, and is distributed on a weekly basis to online and iPad users worldwide.
