Hershey Chocolate Company

In 1893 Milton S. Hershey (1857-1945) visited Columbian Exposition in Chicago. There he saw a complete German chocolate manufacturing operation in action. He decided he wanted to make chocolate himself.

In 1894 he incorporated his new business as the Hershey Chocolate Company. Milton S. Hershey hired two chocolate makers and began manufacturing chocolates.

Milton S. Hershey built a chocolate factory and completed in 1905. The completion of the factory meant the mass production of chocolate could begin.

Chocolate making became such a huge part of Derry Church that the town was renamed Hershey.

Many of the Hershey’s major products date back to these early years. Hershey’s Kisses were first manufactured in 1907.

In the early 1920s, business boomed in Hershey, the factory turned out million of dollar worth of chocolate every year.

During the World War II, special Hershey chocolate bars were given to the US armed forces as part of Ration D. It weight four ounces and could with stand extreme heat. During the war, the company manufactured more than 3 billion bars.

Hershey Chocolate Company is the world’s largest producer of chocolate and cocoa products. The company was renamed the Hershey Chocolate Corporation and listed on the New York Stock Exchange for the first time.

Today the company has an annual revenue (2011) of $6.1 billion, exports its product to more than 90 countries and has operation in Pennsylvania, California, Illinois, Virginia, Canada and other locations outside the US. Revenue for 2012 expected to be 6.6 billion.
Hershey Chocolate Company

Hershey’s Kisses

The original Hershey’s Kisses were introduced in 1907 the same year that the first New Year’s Eve Ball drop on Times Square. These were little bell-shaped milk chocolate wrapped in silver foil.

In 1906, Toblerone became the first chocolate product in the world to be patented. Seventeen years after Theodore Tobler patented his chocolate, Milton S. Hershey registered his Hershey’s Kisses, and turn his plume –wrapped chocolates into a cultural icon.

Hershey’s Kisses are dressed up for a number of seasonal occasion. During Easter, the product is available in pastel blue, pink and green foil.

For Valentine’s Day, red and silver colors are used and in the Fall they are available in ‘Fall Harvest’ in brown, goldenrod and russet colors.

Hershey’s Kisses are consumed by millions of people around the world. Consumers who tasted Hershey Kisses said that they were ‘sweet’ and ‘quick melting’. These qualities were found to be associated with overstimulation and joy.

In addition, they perceived the benefits from Hershey Kisses were to ‘get energy’ and ‘satisfying a sugar craving’.

Hershey Chocolate Company is the world’s largest producer of chocolate and cocoa products. Today the company has an annual revenue (2011) of $6.1 billion, exports its product to more than 90 countries and has operation in Pennsylvania, California, Illinois, Virginia, Canada and other locations outside the US. Revenue for 2012 expected to be 6.6 billion.
Hershey’s Kisses