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Hershey’s candy

Hershey’s Chocolate Company was founded by Milton Hershey in 1984. Known as the most popular chocolate candy company in the world, Hershey’s serves chocolate in over 60 countries and is responsible for the development of some of the world's most iconic chocolate candy including Hershey’s Chocolate Bars, M&Ms, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, KitKat, and Rolo.

 

How A Pennslyvania-Based Candy Brand Became The Most Popular Chocolatier In The World

Milton Hershey was no stranger to candy. Having been an apprentice for multiple confectioners and running his own candy store for six years (from 1873-79) he had learned the process of making caramel. After moving back to his home state of Pennsylvania from New York in 1886, he started the Lancaster Caramel Company that produced caramel candy using premium milk from local farmers.

In the summer of 1893 he attended the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago where he was first introduced to chocolate-making machines. He immediately sold Lancaster Caramel Company and shifted his focus entirely to chocolate.

He’s famously quoted, “caramel is a fad, chocolate is a permanent thing.”

And he wasn’t wrong. In 1896, Hershey purchased a milk-processing plant that he could use to perfect his milk chocolate recipe where he developed the patented “Hershey process” that relied less on milk quality than traditional processes. In 1899 the first Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bar was produced and was an immediate hit amongst consumers. So in 1903, he packed up his product and moved production to his hometown of Derry Church, PA, which would eventually be renamed to Hershey—what we now know as the chocolate capital of the United States.

With a premium chocolate production process, Hershey started making other chocolate candies including a flat-bottomed, bite-sized sweet known as the Hershey Kiss. This candy would go on to become one of the most popular products ever made by Hershey’s and currently produces over 70 million units per day.

Hershey’s, now known as The Hershey Company, is famous for tons of different confectionery innovations including products like Mr. Goodbar (1925), Hershey's Syrup (1926), semisweet chocolate chips (1928), and the Krackel Bar (1938). The Hershey Company also purchased many of the production rights to some of the major market candies we know and love like Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, M&Ms, KitKat, Rolo, Heath, Cadbury, Mounds, Almond Joy, Payday, Whatchamacallit, ZERO, and even Twizzlers.

Today, The Hershey Company remains one of the most recognizable brands on store shelves and continues to serve chocolate lovers around the world with its iconic products and innovative ideas.

 

FAQ

When did Hershey’s come out?

  • The first Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bar was produced in 1900 followed by Hershey Kiss in 1907, both of which are staple products in The Hershey Company catalog.


What products does Hershey’s make?


Where is Hershey’s candy sold?

 

Related collections

Milk Chocolate, Dark Chocolate, Chewy Candy, Peanut Butter Candy, Hard Candy, Nut Candy