Hershey committed to growth at 2018 Sweets & Snacks Expo

HERSHEY, Pa. — The Hershey Co. will spotlight its iconic brands Hershey’s, Reese’s, Kit Kat and Ice Breakers as category leaders and retail sales drivers during the National Confectioner’s Association’s 2018 Sweets and Snacks Expo, May 22-24 in Chicago. Visitors to the booth can sample these candy powerhouses while discovering a variety of product innovations, retail insights and shopper-driven retail strategies.

The company’s core confection brands have been driving category growth for decades. Hershey’s top five strategic brands count for 25% of all candy, mint and gum (CMG) sales, and grew more than 3 percent³ at retail last year. In fact, growth on these top five brands accounted for approximately 40% of total 2017 CMG category growth.

In addition to long-standing Hershey favorites, the company will feature its latest innovations, including Reese’s Outrageous and Hershey’s Gold, which are built on existing brand equity and bring excitement, trial and differentiation to the category.

“Our strength comes from the iconic brands people know, love and trust. At Sweets and Snacks Expo, we are providing deep insight into how our retail partners can deliver a seamless snacks shopping experience across their total retail footprint with our iconic brands as key anchors,” said Todd Tillemans, president, U.S., The Hershey Co.

As demand for Hershey’s iconic brands grows, the company is making significant capital investments across its U.S. manufacturing network. Hershey’s and Reese’s are two of only three brands over $1 billion in the CMG category, and Kit Kat is poised to become the company’s next billion-dollar brand. In total, Hershey is investing over $100 million across four U.S. plants to increase production capacity for its Hershey’s, Reese’s and Kit Kat brands.

The manufacturing expansion will also support delivery of Hershey’s innovation portfolio:

Reese’s Outrageous, a new treat exploding with texture and flavor that features caramel and crunchy Reese’sPieces candy surrounded by creamy peanut butter, and covered in smooth milk chocolate.
Hershey’s Gold, a proprietary blend of caramelized crème with peanuts and pretzels in a crunchy crème bar.
Hershey’s Waffle Layer Crunch Dulce de Leche Bar, and Hershey’sWaffle Layer Crunch Strawberry Bar. These latest additions to the Hershey’s Layer Crunch platform combine delicious Hershey’s Milk Chocolate with crispy waffle cone pieces and ice cream-inspired Dulce de Leche and Strawberry-Flavored Crème.

“We’ve set our sights on becoming an innovative snacking powerhouse, and that means focusing on the essential role our core candy brands play in the overall snacking category,” said Tillemans. “From that foundation we’re offering a variety of flexible options that appeal to retail partners and shoppers alike.”

The booth will also feature its Popped Snack Mix and Dipped Pretzels line as well as its barkThins and Krave brands.

Visitors to the Sweets & Snacks Expo will have several opportunities to learn from Hershey’s insights and retail strategy teams.

Brian Kavanagh, Hershey’s Senior Director of Retail Evolution, will examine a model for winning in a total commerce world during his provocative seminar, “Bricks and Clicks Retail: From Enemies to Allies,” on Tuesday, May 22 at 1:00 p.m. in the Discovery Theater. Attendees will hear how Hershey thinks about creating a seamless snacks shopping experience however, wherever and whenever people shop.

Hershey will also officially launch its second ‘In a Shopper’s World’ Retail Report: Power of Search in a Shopper’s World. The report boldly redefines “search” and lays out four key ways that brands and retailers can attract, engage and convince people to shop their “total commerce ecosystem.”

Hershey’s booth will also feature experts, insights and strategies on the following topics: