The name Hershey’s is synonymous with chocolate and it is rightly so considering The Hershey Company is one of the largest chocolate makers in the world.  Hershey’s however is not just into making chocolates as they even sell cakes, milkshakes, cookies and many more products.  The Hershey’s Kisses are one of the most well known chocolates to be ever made by Hershey and the bite size chocolates are a favourite globally.  However, Hershey’s was not always a chocolate company and was manufacturing something entirely different when it was founded.

Founding Story

The Hershey Company was founded by Milton S. Hershey in 1894, but the company traces its roots back to 1873 when Milton Hershey opened a candy shop in Philadelphia after an apprenticeship.  After running the candy shop for six years, Milton Hershey apprenticed with a confectioner to learn how to make caramel following which in 1886 Milton founded the Lancaster Caramel Company.  

Milton Hershey saw a chocolate making machine for the first time in 1893 at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, and decided to make chocolates thereby founding The Hershey Company in 1894.  Before the chocolate making machines, chocolate was a luxury item and was time consuming to make.  Milton Hershey saw an opportunity and built a milk processing plant so he could create and refine a recipe for milk chocolate candies.  Milton Hershey’s first thought was to manufacture chocolate bars covered in caramel but the chocolate bars became such a huge hit, Milton ditched the caramel.  He began manufacturing Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bars, also called Hershey’s Bars or Hershey Bars.  This would go on to become America’s favourite candy bar in its brown and silver wrapper.  Milton Hershey sold his caramel business in 1900 for a million dollars to focus on making chocolate.

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Growth

Milton Hershey decided to build a town called Hershey in Pennsylvania where he would manufacture chocolate.  The plots of land Hershey chose were close to the Berks and Dauphin Turnpike, as well as the Reading and Philadelphia Railroads. There was a massive labor pool of rural families who were ready to work, and it was also close to one of his factory’s main ingredients which is fresh milk.  The Hershey’s Kisses were introduced in 1907 and were a huge success in the market.  The Kisses were followed by the introduction of some popular brands which are still famous today like  Mr. Goodbar (1925) and Hershey’s Syrup (1926.)  One of Hershey’s most iconic brands, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, was purchased by Hershey’s in 1963 and in 1969, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups became The Hershey Company’s top seller.

Hershey’s is now present in 60 countries worldwide and is still continuing to grow in leaps and bounds.  Thousands of people visit Hershey town every year to visit Hershey Park and also to know the history of the famed chocolate brand.  It is safe to say Hershey’s has changed the way chocolate is consumed and will continue to do so in the future.