Hersheys Chocolate

HERSHEY’S CHOCOLATE COMPANY


The Founding of Hershey’s Chocolate

The founder of Hershey’s Chocolate was Milton Snavely Hershey. Milton was born in Derry Church, Pennsylvania on September 13, 1857. Hershey’s wasn’t Milton’s first candy company. He tried out many jobs in his early years before settling on candy making. In the beginning of his career, Milton started a caramel company, called Lancaster Caramel Company, in 1854. Later, Milton decided to sell Lancaster Carmel Company and move on to develop Hershey’s Chocolate Company. In 1900, Milton put out the first ever Hershey’s chocolate bar.

The Making of Hershey’s Chocolate

The Hershey’s Chocolate Plant, in Hershey, Pennsylvania, covers 2 million square feet of manufacturing land, making it currently the largest chocolate factory in the world. The first Hershey’s plant to open outside the United States opened on June 15, 1963 in Smiths Falls, Ontario, Canada. In 2007, two plants closed, including the plant in Canada, to be replaced by a new facility in Monterrey, Mexico. The facility in Mexico is cheaper to run, however it did cause the loss of many jobs, hurting the economy.


The Other Products Made By Hershey’s

Hershey's Chocolate has been successful for making great chocolate over the years and it has branched out of just making chocolate over the years. But, did you know that Hershey's Chocolate owns other brands that we all like to indulge in our everyday life? They have brands such as Jolly Ranchers, Twizzlers, Ice Breakers, Kit Kat’s, Reese’s, and so much more!



Most Popular Products

As you know, Hershey's Chocolate owns a wide variety of brands, from Hershey's Kisses to Ice Breakers. With so many brands, there's bound to be popular products. Some popular products are Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Hershey's Kisses, and Hershey's Milk Chocolate.





Hershey’s Major Competitors
Research done in 2001 shows that Hershey’s had a lot of competitors but the most known today are Nestlé, Mars, Ferrero Rocher, and Haribo. Most people do not know that the owner of Hershey’s major competitor, Mars, used to be Milton Hershey’s partner. But a bad split left them both with bitter feelings towards each other. Mars Company makes many famous candy products including M&M’s. Hershey and Mars have had a chocolate war going on for quite a while, each owning their very own “gold mine”. Hershey’s “gold mine” was Reese’s Peanut butter cups and the most famous and oldest product; the Milk Chocolate bar. Forrest Mar’s “gold mine” was Snickers and M&M’s. Overall anyone in the buisness making snacks, candy or chocolate is a competitor of Hershey's..

BIBLIOGRAPGY
Bellis, Mary History of Hershey's Chocolate & Milton Hershey. about.com, Retrieved November 14, 2008, from http://inventors.about.com/od/hstartinventors/a/Milton_Hershey.htm

(9/9/06). Operator Information Industry Data Specific for Vend Operators. Retrieved 11/14/08, from http://www.hersheys.com/vending/infocenter/retail.asp 4/08, from http://www.brandchannel.com/features_effect.asp?pf_id=71#more

Broderick, Keith (4/26/01). Chocolate. Retrieved November 14, 2008, from Buissness.uiuc.edu Web site: http://www.business.uiuc.edu/leuthold/econ102/WebProjects/Satisficers/Section%201%20-%20Market%20Description.htm

Coyle, Millie L. (2006). Milton Snavely Hershey. Retrieved November 14, 2008, Web site: http://www.hersheyhistory.org/milton.html