The Hershey Company ( Hsy )

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).

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.

As of 2008, Hershey Company still appears to be providing strong investor returns. Although its profit margin has decreased, its gross profit rate has remained steady, indicating that the Company is still effectively

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.

With the increasing trend in healthy diet preference, the underlying drivers of change of competition in premium chocolate industry at the strongest level are the buyers’ preferences for differentiated, refined products, instead of standardized ordinary products that are no longer demanded. In addition, baby boomers - generation with their disposable income are spending a lot on high quality premium chocolates.

For over one hundred years, there has been only one company that has been on top of the candy industry in North America; Hershey. With over 14,000 employees, serving 70 countries worldwide and net sales of $6.6 billon, Hershey has come out on top. The Hershey company began in 1894 by Milton Hershey. The company has over 8 factories, but their main headquarters resides in Pennsylvania. The beloved Hershey milk chocolate bar has been a favorite by many, but would it still be if more people knew how it came to be that? One of chocolates main ingredients is cocoa. Cocoa, or cocoa beans come from tropical areas around the world, but is mostly found on the Ivory Coast in West Africa. Hershey, along with Mars and Nestle are the three major companies that buy their cocoa from West Africa, but with further investigation, it has been known that over 4,400 children work on those cocoa farms that they buy from.

When looking at both companies’ websites, it is easy to tell which company is the largest chocolate manufacturer North America and which is the smaller company that got its start just under 10 years ago solely based on the style and design of the website. The first thing the eye is drawn to on Hershey’s website is large picture of two s’mores stacked on top of each other with headline reading, “Sharing S’mores Makes Summer Delicious”. Making s’mores usually indicates a bonfire with family or friends and having fun. As one clicks though the tabs that include recipes, crafts, videos, and even a tab for s’more themselves, focusing on the fact that it summertime and that is when most people have bonfires. The message Hershey is trying to get across with their website is their love for chocolate, seen though the many

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

Fines followed after searches of company offices made in 2008 after the German subsidiary of U.S. food group Mars offered its assistance in the investigation in return for leniency from the BKA. "Competition with competitors was quickly switched off and consumers were burdened with price

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,

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.

Hershey Foods Corporation is number one in the confectionary foods market. Although many people associate Hershey with chocolate, the company started when founder Milton Hershey decided to produce caramel in 1894.They are most famous for their major candy brands such as Hershey 's, Reese 's, Kit Kat, Kisses, Twizzlers, Jolly Rancher etc. However, Hershey also sells grocery products including: baking chocolate, chocolate milk, ice cream toppings, cocoa, chocolate syrup, and peanut butter. Hershey has two main operating divisions, Hershey Chocolate North America and Hershey International. Hershey exports their products to over 90

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.

The hershey food cooperation is a confectionery kind of industry that was founded in 1894 by Milton Hershey who is a candy-manufacturer who decided to try adding chocolate to his caramels; transforming the name of his enterprise the Hershey Chocolate. This new factory was located strategically near dairy farms and surrounded by the spirits of hardworking people , by 1900 production of the delicious mil chocolate took place. Followed that, the launch of so many

Chocolates had its beginning in the times of the Mayas and the Aztecs when they beat cocoa into