Full Description

The Hershey Company, incorporated on October 24, 1927, is a manufacturer of chocolate and sugar confectionery products. The Company’s principal product groups include chocolate and confectionery products; food and beverage enhancers, such as baking ingredients, toppings and beverages, and gum and mint refreshment products. The Company manufactures, markets, sells and distributes various package types of chocolate and confectionery products, food and beverage enhancers, and gum and mint refreshment products under more than 80 brand names. The Company’s five operating segments comprise geographic regions, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and other international locations, such as India, the Philippines, Korea, Japan, and China. The Company’s customer, McLane Company, Inc., accounted for approximately 26% of its total net sales during the year ended December 31, 2008. McLane Company, Inc. is the primary distributor of the Company’s products to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. In March 2009, Barry Callebaut AG sold 100% of its consumer company in Asia, Van Houten Singapore, to the Company.

The Company’s selling and marketing organization comprises Hershey North America, Hershey International and the Global Marketing Group. Hershey North America includes developing and growing its business in chocolate, sugar confectionery, refreshment, food and beverage enhancers, and food service product lines. Hershey International markets confectionery products, and food and beverage enhancers worldwide. Hershey International manufactures and distributes confectionery products, for the markets in Asia, particularly in China, under a manufacturing agreement with Lotte Confectionery Co., Ltd.

The primary chocolate and confectionery products sold in the United States under the HERSHEY’S brand franchise include, HERSHEY’S milk chocolate bar, HERSHEY’S milk chocolate bar with almonds, HERSHEY’S Extra Dark chocolates, HERSHEY’S MINIATURES chocolate candy, HERSHEY’S NUGGETS chocolates, HERSHEY’S STICKS chocolates, HERSHEY’S COOKIES ‘N’ CREME candy bar, HERSHEY’S POT OF GOLD boxed chocolates, HERSHEY’S SUGAR FREE chocolate candy and HERSHEY’S HUGS candies. Chocolate and confectionery products sold under the REESE’S brand franchise include REESE’S peanut butter cups, REESE’S PIECES candy, REESE’S BIG CUP peanut butter cups, REESE’S NUTRAGEOUS candy bar, REESE’S Clusters candy, REESE’S SUGAR FREE peanut butter cups, REESE’S crispy crunchy bar, REESE’S WHIPPS nougat bar, REESESTICKS wafer bars and FAST BREAK candy bar. Chocolate and confectionery products sold under the KISSES brand franchise include HERSHEY’S KISSES brand milk chocolates, HERSHEY’S KISSES brand milk chocolates filled with almonds, HERSHEY’S KISSES brand milk chocolates filled with caramel and HERSHEY’S KISSABLES brand chocolate candies.

The Company’s other chocolate and confectionery products in the United States include 5th AVENUE candy bar, ALMOND JOY candy bar, CADBURY chocolates, CARAMELLO candy bar, GOOD & PLENTY candy, HEATH toffee bar, JOLLY RANCHER candy, JOLLY RANCHER sugar free hard candy, KIT KAT wafer bar, MILK DUDS candy, MOUNDS candy bar, MR. GOODBAR candy bar, PAYDAY peanut caramel bar, ROLO caramels in milk chocolate, SKOR toffee bar, SPECIAL DARK chocolate bar, SYMPHONY milk chocolate bar, SYMPHONY milk chocolate bar with almonds and toffee, TAKE5 candy bar, TWIZZLERS candy, WHATCHAMACALLIT candy bar, WHOPPERS malted milk balls, YORK peppermint pattie, YORK sugar free, peppermint pattie, ZAGNUT candy bar and ZERO candy bar.

The Company also sells products in the United States under various product lines, such as premium products, snack products, refreshment product, and food and beverage enhancers. The premium chocolate and confectionery offerings include CACAO RESERVE BY HERSHEY’S chocolate bars and drinking cocoa mixes, and chocolate products under the STARBUCKS brand. The Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Artisan Confections Company, markets SCHARFFEN BERGER high-cacao dark chocolate products, JOSEPH SCHMIDT handcrafted chocolate gifts and DAGOBA organic chocolate products.

Snack products include HERSHEY’S SNACKSTERS snack mix, HERSHEY’S, ALMOND JOY, REESE’S, YORK cookies, HERSHEY’S and REESE’S granola bars, and MAUNA LOA macadamia snack nuts and cookies in several varieties. Refreshment products include ICE BREAKERS mints and chewing gum, BREATH SAVERS mints, BUBBLE YUM bubble gum and YORK mints. Food and beverage enhancers include HERSHEY’S BAKE SHOPPE, HERSHEY’S, REESE’S, HEATH and SCHARFFEN BERGER baking products. The Company’s toppings and sundae syrups include HEATH and HERSHEY’S. The Company sells hot cocoa mix under the HERSHEY’S, HERSHEY’S GOODNIGHT HUGS and HERSHEY’S GOODNIGHT KISSES brand names.

In Canada, principal products the Company sell include HERSHEY’S milk chocolate bars and milk chocolate bars with almonds; OH HENRY! candy bars; REESE PEANUT BUTTER CUPS candy; HERSHEY’S KISSES candy bars; KISSABLES brand candies; TWIZZLERS candy; GLOSETTE chocolate-covered raisins, peanuts and almonds; JOLLY RANCHER candy; WHOPPERS malted milk balls; SKOR toffee bars; EAT MORE candy bars; POT OF GOLD boxed chocolates, and CHIPITS chocolate chips. The Company manufactures, imports, sells and distributes chocolate and confectionery products in Mexico, including HERSHEY’S, KISSES, JOLLY RANCHER, and PELON PELO RICO chocolate, confectionery and beverage items.

In Brazil, the Company manufactures imports and market chocolate and confectionery products, including HERSHEY’S chocolate and confectionery items and IO-IO items. In India, the Company manufactures, markets, sells and distributes confectionery, beverage and cooking oil products, including NUTRINE, and GODREJ confectionery and beverage products.