| Hershey’s Kisses and M&M’s Plain Chocolate Candies rank in the top two spots, respectively, of the 25 highest ranked CPG brands list, according to researcher Harris Interactive. |
In its 2010 brand equity study, the company reports the top 25 brands, which represent icons of quality within their categories. More than 19,708 U.S. consumers ages 15 and older participated in the poll, which measured more than 1,000 brands across 42 categories, the company says. |
The Hershey Co.’s Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Candy Bars rank third, while its Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups rank sixth on the list. |
Mars Chocolate North America’s Snickers Chocolate Candy was chosen for the 16th, and M&M’s Peanut Chocolate Candies ranked 24th. Other spots were dominated by brands in non-food categories. Read more at www.candyandsnacktoday.com |
| The Hershey Co. will share its consumer research with retailers for improved confectionery sales and to gain a “competitive advantage in our category for years to come,” according to CEO David West. |
Insights Driven Performance (IDP) is the new partnership between Hershey and key retailers designed to capitalize on the company’s “deep knowledge of consumer behavior and shopper preferences,” and will include amping up in-store promotional efforts, the company states. |
Upscale front-end displays, register racks with increased capacity, color-coded candy aisles and digital displays on “smart” shopping carts in certain locations will be part of the initiative, the company says. Read more at www.candyandsnacktoday.com |
| The Hershey Co. and The Partnership for a Drug-Free America will encourage parents and children to make healthy choices with its “Time To Talk” campaign. |
For Valentine’s Day, Hershey and the nonprofit organization have launched “Sweet Talk Tools for Families,” a web site that helps families find ways to spend time together, including using Hershey’s chocolate products to make baked goods. Visitors to timetotalk.org/sweettalktools can access recipes such as Chewy Brownie Cookies, Chocolate-Cream Filled Tortes and Neapolitan Ice Cream Sandwich Cakes. |
The company has also increased its annual donation to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America to support the Time to Talk campaign, according to Jennifer Goss, community relations manager at Hershey. Read more at www.candyandsnacktoday.com |
5 February 2010
Hershey has announced that it will substantially increase its advertising budget this year as it seeks more higher confectionery sales in the US market.
“We expect to increase advertising by up to 30% during the year, supporting new product launches and core brands – particularly Hershey’s, Reese’s, Hershey’s Kisses, Bliss, Twizzlers and Kit Kat,” says company CEO David J. West.
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Read more at www.confectioneryproduction.com |
| Net sales for The Hershey Co. reached $1.4 billion in the fourth quarter of 2009, a 2.2 percent increase compared with $1.3 billion for the same period in 2008. |
Reported net income for the fourth quarter was $126 million or 55 cents per share-diluted, compared with $82 million or 36 cents per share-diluted for the prior year. |
The company says the results represent a solid finish to the year, and attributes the quarter’s net sales increase to pricing and improvements in international business. Full-year 2009 net sales increased 3.2 percent, according to the company. Read more at www.candyandsnacktoday.com |
Higher prices and lower charges sparked a profit increase for Hershey Co. as the nation’s second-biggest candy maker continued to push its brands to cost-conscious consumers and gain market share. |
The company also maintained its 2010 adjusted earnings and sales forecasts while boosting its quarterly dividend. The news sent Hershey’s stock up 19 cents to $37 in premarket trading. |
The candy maker’s price hikes contributed to profit increases in every quarter of 2009. While some experts viewed the move as risky, potentially scaring off budget-conscious shoppers, the actions have appeared to have minimal impact as consumers are remaining loyal. |
Hershey, PA — The Hershey Co. has officially denounced rumors that it intended to make an offer to buy Cadbury plc. |
The company issued a statement pursuant to Rule 2.8 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers, stating it does not intend to make an offer. Still, Hershey says it reserves the right to participate in an offer within six months if circumstances change. Read more at www.candyandsnacktoday.com |
A committee consisting of three Hershey directors, set up to study the feasibility of a Cadbury bid, has given a green light to pursue a deal, and Hershey has authorised its primary banks - JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America - to line up financing for its bid. |
A key component of the transaction would be the infusion of billions of dollars from family investors being lined up by Byron Trott, the former Goldman Sachs investment banker who now runs his own fund. At Goldman, Mr Trott was instrumental in crafting the deal that helped Mars acquire Wm Wrigley Jr, a deal in which Warren Buffett provided $6.5bn in cash and debt. |
However, questions remain over the financing. Hershey cannot borrow too much, because it would lose its investment grade credit rating. To keep its bank debt below levels of leverage that would undermine that rating, Hershey would need to issue new equity. Read more at www.ft.com |
I foresee another company outing to Hershey when this opens. By summer, visitors to Hershey’s Chocolate World in Derry Township will have the opportunity to play chocolate innovators and create their own candy bars. |
The interactive Create Your Own Candy Bar is a natural progression for Chocolate World, which opened in 1973 and replaced the Hershey Company’s on-site factory tours, said Amy Hahn, general manager of The Hershey Experience. |
Visitors will track their custom candy bars from beginning to end at various stations in the factory-like setting, she said. |
The five-ounce bars will be cooled and wrapped in custom packaging created by guests. The price of the attraction is expected to be $12.95, Hahn said. Read more at www.pennlive.com |
Hershey, PA — New packs bearing a “Thank You” message to consumers for their support of the Milton Hershey School will be released in January by The Hershey Co. |
Hershey’s Milk Chocolate bars and Milk Chocolate Bars with Almonds will bear the new on-pack message, which thanks consumers who have helped to support children in need for more than 100 years through their purchase of Hershey’s products. The standard and king-size bars will be available to consumers in January. |
Milton Hershey School is a private coeducational home and school for more than 1,800 children from low-income families with social need and limited resources, according to Hershey. Read more at www.candyandsnacktoday.com |
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Kisses, M&M’s Are Top CPGs
