Now that Halloween has come and gone, you might have wrongly assumed that candy season is over. Not if the Hershey Co. has anything to say about it. In fact, the sweets are just getting started.
During its virtual preview on November 6, the confectionary company revealed four new holiday-themed products and explained how the company is stocked and ready to bring some sweetness to the hectic season ahead.
Here’s what to know:
What new items does Hershey have up its sleeve?
Hershey announced four new treats to look out for:
- Hershey’s Kisses Snickerdoodle Cookie Candy
- Kit Kat Peppermint Stick
- Reese’s Mini Trees
- Hershey’s Grinch Milk Chocolate Bar
Through extensive market research, Hershey discovered that a resounding 76% of people would be interested in purchasing a snickerdoodle-flavored candy, and the company is obliging with new snickerdoodle Kisses.
Hershey’s research also confirmed what many of us already know: Mint is a go-to flavor during the winter months. To capitalize on that trend—and give candy canes a run for their money—Hershey’s new peppermint Kit Kat bars come in three sizes to appease all hunger magnitudes.
Meanwhile, the classic Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bars are continuing their partnership with the Grinch, Dr. Seuss’s iconic Christmas hater. Popular characters such as Cindy Lou Who, Max, and the big-hearted green guy himself are featured on the packaging and in the design of the chocolate for a fun, festive treat.
Whimsical shapes are also here to stay. Reese’s Peanut Butter Trees, now available in a mini version, are a perfect tree-trimming snack.
How Hershey became a confectionary powerhouse
These days, the name Hershey is synonymous with chocolate bars, but the company actually started with caramel.
In 1886, Milton S. Hershey founded the Lancaster Caramel Co. in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Hershey got the idea to make chocolate while attending the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893, and wasted no time launching the Hershey Chocolate Co. as a subsidiary of his original business the following year.
In 1900, he sold Lancaster Caramel but retained the chocolate side of the business. That same year, Hershey started selling milk chocolate bars. Chocolate Kisses made their debut seven years later.
In 1925, the Goodbar was introduced, and in 1963 Hershey acquired H.B. Reese Candy Co.
Today Hershey is the parent company for more than 100 brands, including Jolly Rancher, Rolos, and SkinnyPop.
With a market cap of roughly $34 billion, the company reported net sales of $11.2 billion last year. And it’s not just about sweet treats. Hershey’s salty snacks unit in North America grew 10% in the third quarter of this year, generating $321 million.