Marketing Case Study: Hershey

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

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.

thehersheycompany.com went on to say that the Hershey Chocolate is focused on growing their company globally and sharing Hershey 's chocolate around the world.

Hershey started with 500 acres of land to build the company; within one year of being open he expanded to 12,000 acres (Career). He made the company bigger and better as time went on. When Hershey first opened, milk chocolate was the only candy produced. Around 400,000 quarts of milk were used each day to manufacture chocolate, around half a million pounds of chocolate was produced a day. While planning the rest of the Hershey factory, Milton wanted his employees to have a safe, home-like environment to live in. Workers would need comfortable homes, medical care, recreational facilities, and school for their children. Not only would Hershey help them out financially, he would help them with personal issues too. The production took around a year to do. By then Hershey Company was ready to open and produce candy

The Hershey Company and Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc. have weathered the ”Great Depression” with a history of more than one hundred years in the confectionary candy making industry. Their vision and longevity have pushed them into the twenty first century to meet the needs of the community, consumer, affordability, environment and healthy control portions. Both companies have made available, reduced sugar, sugar free, nut free, peanut free and gluten free products that is reflected in their candies, gum and mints. The two companies are worth investing in, but may be better than the other.

The founder of Hershey Chocolate, Milton Hershey, had a long journey to creating some of the most famous candy today. From a young age he lived in poverty and his parents constantly fought due to differences, which would always have an impact on Milton’s life. He started out in the business struggling, first with his caramel business going under and the unhelpful advice of his father that only led to Milton making more mistakes. Once Milton made it big he went on to do amazing things and dedicated a big part of his life to helping other people and focusing on the well-being of his employees. Milton Hershey was indeed one of the most famous and successful people in the candy community, but it was only through many hardships and stress that got him there.

At the end, the problem for Rogers’ Chocolates becomes a question of if they lose age-old tradition and gain resources rapidly to expand their reach; or value who they are, and find alternative options to grow.

The transportation cost of chocolate was high and small mom and pop stores commonly supplied chocolate made locally. Today you would be hard-pressed to find local chocolate in the United States, with the shelves dominated by four major brands. The

Hershey has bought and produced tons of chocolate for over 50 years that has had the blood, sweat and tears of the not only the children on the Ivory Coast, but the adults as well. The way that Hershey has been able to sell to their consumers with very low prices on all their products is because they buy from the cocoa farms that have child slaves. Many of which were taken from their homes, sold or needed to provide for their families. They would come work for cocoa farmers and get paid little to nothing. Children who work on the Ivory Coast usually are between ages 12 and 16,

The proposed sale of Hershey Foods Corporation (HFC) during the summer of 2002 captured headlines and imaginations. After all, Hershey was an American icon, and when the company’s largest shareholder, the Hershey Trust Company (HSY), asked HFC management to explore a sale, the story drew national and international attention. The company’s unusual governance structure put the Hershey Trust’s board in the difficult position of making both an economic and a governance decision. On the one hand, the board faced a challenging economic decision that centered on determining whether the solicited bids provided a fair premium for HFC

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.

Born into a poor, lower-class family, Milton S. Hershey dropped out of school before reaching the fourth grade. He developed an interest in becoming a confectioner. He believed there would be great demand for affordable, mass-produced chocolate, and thus he built the Hershey Chocolate Company. Hershey’s is now the largest producer of quality chocolates in North America and a global leader in chocolate and sugar confectionery. Although he enjoyed making money, Milton S. Hershey was intent on using his vast fortune for philanthropic purposes. He decided to surround his enterprise with a model town and personally financed the building of roads, utilities,

Industry Analysis: Cadbury Schweppes (CS) is comprised of a global confectionery and beverage company. For the purpose of this case we will maintain our focus on the confectionery business and the assessment of adding to their sugar confectionery portfolio. CS is number three in the beverage business but see the opportunity to become the largest confectionery in the world. The categories are chocolates, sugar and chewing gum. At this time Adams is the number two sized in the gum business. This industry operates on “bigger is better in confectionery”. Their strategic discussions and ambitions appear to stay true, in mentality, to this mantra. This mantra could be potentially dangerous to the business. CS had a presence in over 70

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.

In 1894, the Hershey Chocolate Company began in Lancaster, Pennsylvania when Milton Hershey decided to begin producing chocolate coating for his caramels. In 1900, Hershey expanded their business by producing more goods. Once Hershey began mass production, they were able to minimize production costs and make high-quality milk chocolate. After this new production model was established, Hershey began to expand its facilities throughout the northeastern United States. They also increased their supply chain efficiency by building a new facility in close proximity to ports and dairy farms that supply Hershey with its raw materials.