Stories
Hershey’s Founding Story
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.
A decade ago, the success of a startup was measured largely by its ability to raise capital. Today, a different metric is gaining importance: the ability to generate meaningful exits for investors. Large stake sales by early backers are becoming increasingly common, not because growth opportunities have disappeared, but because India’s startup ecosystem is entering a more mature phase where capital is expected to complete its full cycle from investment to returns.
This evolution is particularly significant for consumer brands that have successfully blended technology, retail, and strong brand-building. Companies that were once viewed as high-risk startup bets are now attracting institutional investors capable of absorbing large transactions. Such developments indicate that these businesses are no longer being valued solely on future potential; they are increasingly being assessed on operational performance, market leadership, and long-term profitability. In many ways, investor exits are becoming a validation of a company’s ability to create lasting enterprise value.
The broader implication extends beyond a single company or investor. Successful exits encourage more global capital to enter India’s startup ecosystem because they demonstrate that liquidity opportunities exist at scale. As more venture-backed companies approach public listings, secondary transactions, or strategic investments, the focus of founders and investors alike may shift from chasing headline valuations to building durable businesses. The next chapter of India’s startup journey will likely be defined not just by the creation of unicorns, but by the creation of companies capable of delivering sustained returns to all stakeholders.
Apple has unveiled the new MacBook Air with M5 chip, starting at $999 for 13-inch and $1,299 for 15-inch models. The MacBook Air M5 boasts a 2nm M5 chip with 12-core CPU, 18-core GPU, and 50 TOPS Neural Engine for seamless AI tasks like real-time translation and 8K editing. Up to 22 hours of battery life, Thunderbolt 5, and Wi-Fi 7 make it the ultimate ultraportable, now 10% thinner at 0.44 inches with fanless cooling.
Key MacBook Air M5 features include Liquid Retina XDR display (500 nits, nano-texture option), 12MP Center Stage camera, and six-speaker Spatial Audio. Colors like new Sky Blue join Midnight and Starlight. Pre-orders are live today, with macOS Sequoia 15.4 enhancing Apple Intelligence and iPhone Continuity for students, pros, and remote workers.
Why buy MacBook Air M5 now? It outpaces Snapdragon X Elite rivals with ecosystem magic and future-proof performance, eyeing top 2026 laptop sales. CEO Tim Cook calls it “more capable than ever.” Visit apple.com for M5 MacBook deals and specs.
Delhi NCR-based gaming startup Zupee has acquired Mumbai-based microdrama platform Vertical TV in a deal valued under INR 40 Cr. This move strengthens Zupee Studio, its short-video arm launched in September 2025, by integrating Vertical TV’s expertise in bite-sized dramas like romance and thrillers.
Facing challenges from India’s 2025 real-money gaming ban, Zupee valued at $1 Bn after raising $120 Mn has pivoted to non-gaming content, including recent layoffs of 40% of its workforce. The acquisition builds on its November 2025 purchase of Australian AI firm Nucanon for interactive storytelling, targeting its 200 Mn+ users with engaging, mobile-first formats.
This deal underscores the rising microdrama trend in India, helping Zupee diversify amid regulatory pressures and compete in the short-video space dominated by quick, shareable content for on-the-go audiences.
