Marketing Analysis : Hershey Company

The premium chocolate industry is a large market in the United States and continues to grow around 10% annually. It is also populated with very strong

The marketing strategy of Haigh’s chocolate has been identified through detailed analysis of the external and the internal environment of the present market conditions and development of the Haigh’s. There has been complete detailed SWOT analysis of the company on the basis of research conducted from several secondary sources. It has been conducted in order to determine the important strategies and the key strengths of the company. Talking about the chocolate sector which has been further segmented into several categories in which Haigh holds the important position and have captures the major chunk of the market. Such markets range from chocolate blocks, bars and other diet varieties like gluten and eggless products. The demand in the chocolate market is also divided on the basis of the geographic location markets like that in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide chocolate markets. Other factors affecting demand in the market includes demographic, behavioural and psychographic segmentation.

Hershey’s and Cadburys are moving towards the premium chocolate market through the acquisition or upmarket launches (Zietsma, 2007). The profit potential present in this sector supported by its 20% annual growth rate make it very attractive for large organizations to come forward and avail this opportunity. There is a low threat of new entrants prevailing in this chocolate industry because of the high capital requirements and expected retaliation by current manufacturers. Current players in the industry also possess some barriers to entry for new entrants by maintaining economies of scales with their large production capacity and keeping their product differentiation with their specialized and novelty chocolate products. Even though there are low switching costs and easy access to distribution channels, but still the brand loyalty of the customers including the Rogers’ Chocolate itself make it harder for new firms to come into the competition.

While Europe and the United States account for most chocolate consumption, the confection is growing in popularity in Asia and market forecasts are optimistic about the prospects in China and India (Nieburg, 2013, para 9). According to the CNN Freedom Project, the chocolate industry rakes in $83 billion a year, surpassing the Gross Domestic Product of over a hundred nations (“Who consumes the most chocolate,” 2012, para 3).

We all encounter chocolate in our daily life, and whether we want to admit it or not, chocolate has been a major part of history, and it is still seen today.

Research has proved that humans have been consuming cocoa for over 2600 years from once upon a time being used as currency to becoming serious pirate loot to being the key ingredient along with sugar in producing chocolate today.

The chocolate industry operates in an oligopoly market. An oligopoly is when a small number of firms dominate the market. While not a quite a monopoly, an oligopoly market is still controlled by a select number of companies and the market can be directly impacted by one or two major firms (Oligopoly Investopedia). Hershey’s has control of the largest market share, holding 44.4% (U.S Market Share). Mars Incorporated follows behind in second by holding 28.9%. While these two companies hold much of the control and power within the industry, LIndt/Ghirardelli and Nestlé maintain a combined share of 15.1% of the industry’s market. This means that four companies hold a combined 88.4% of the market, with two of them holding a combined 73.3%. The market was not always this way however. Up through the 1960s many candy suppliers were regional.

One important underlying driver of change in the chocolate industry is the large manufacturers lobbying to change the definition of the term "chocolate" under USFDA guidelines, if they are successful in doing this then this could potentially have a dramatic impact on the competitive environment, with lots of cheaper products

The premium chocolate market has been growing at 20% annually, showing that buyers are willing to pay more for a better tasting and better quality chocolate. The declining growth of the overall chocolate market and rapid growth of the premium chocolate market is positive for current producers of premium chocolates in that the decline

M&M’s biggest competitor is Hershey’s brand like M&M candies. The competition is fierce among the chocolate industry. Hershey and Mars are rivals and want the opportunity to gain more of the market share. In 1954, Hershey-ettes were introduced to compete against the similar M&M’s. However, they were not successful and are generally only available for consumers around the Holiday season. By the millennium, Hershey extended the popular Hershey Kisses brand in creating the Kissables. Hershey intended for direct competition to M&M small candy coated round tablet of chocolate in multitude of colors. The candy factories started in standard size packs and by the 70’s moved into standard size candy boxes. In the current year and season, you will find M&M’s in candy canes to small snack sizes and inside ornamental objects. The chocolate world becomes difficult to present as it becomes difficult to come up with new ideas in the candy business. As more companies release products similar to the M&M’s, it will become increasingly difficult for Mars to continue to command the level of market share in the chocolate candy industry and the product has a potential to get lost in the supermarket aisle.

Culliney, Kacey. “Luxury Chocolate to Grow Developed Markets, Says Analyst.” Confectionerynews.com. 13 April 2015 http://www.confectionerynews.com/Markets/Luxury-chocolate-to-grow-developed-markets-says-analyst.

Hershey chocolate is known as one of the world’s most popular chocolate brands. For 118 years, the Hershey brand remains a favorite chocolate treat in over 90 different countries. Beginning only manufacturing milk chocolate, the company today manufacturers over 100 different varieties of candy. Many people are familiar with the traditional Hershey milk chocolate bar, Reese’s peanut butter cups, and bite sized Hershey kisses. The process behind producing these famed treats is a fascinating process. By evaluating the company’s manufacturing process and business dynamics, consumers can gain a better perspective of the science behind the candy the enjoy most.

The objectives that Montreaux USA wants to achieve in the coming 3 years are national distribution of the new Montreaux product line, $15 million in annual sales, and to be within the top 25 in revenue. Accounting for 52.6% of the market, chocolate is the most profitable segment of the confectionary industry. In 2011, Europe captured the largest regional share of the global confectionary market at 45.2%, with the Americas following at

Referring to Exhibit 1 below, the low sales volume forecast would not meet the hurdle rate of $30 million and landed at a little more than half at $17 million. These calculations were calculated through the numbers provided in Apollo Foods files under their Exhibit 5 as well as the methodology for calculations they provided. This chart and methodologies can be referenced below in Exhibit 4. The medium sales volume test fell short of $30 million but was much closer sitting at $25 million and the high sales volume test exceeds the hurdle rate and sits at $39 million. Because of Apollo Foods long standing business and industry success coupled with Montreaux Chocolate branding it is not out of reach to see a new product land between medium and high ACV. With all the information and data suggesting that this new product launch could be a large success that builds on the growing chocolate market trends identified in 2011 moving forward with launch is the right

The Hershey Company, known until April 2005 as the Hershey Foods Corporation and commonly called Hershey 's, is the largest chocolate manufacturer in North America. Its headquarters are in Hershey, Pennsylvania, which is also home to Hershey 's Chocolate World. It was founded by Milton S. Hershey in 1894 as the Hershey Chocolate Company, a subsidiary of his Lancaster Caramel Company. Hershey 's products are sold in about sixty countries worldwide. In addition, Hershey is a member of the World Cocoa Foundation. The company has been topped to 384, compared with the previous rank 404, in 2013 (CNN, 2013). This paper is going to show the company’s international environment,