The Hershey Company are set to reveal a commanding presence at this year’s Sweets & Snacks Expo, which runs from Tuesday 21 May to Thursday 23 May at the McCormick Place convention center in Chicago.
Celebrating 125 years as a category management and snacks leader, the confectionery giant will spotlight its ongoing commitment to the consumer by meeting new snacking occasions and 'discover actionable snacks retail insights to win over valuable shoppers'.
“There are two reasons why Hershey has been around for 125 years – enduring company purpose and the cultural relevance of our brands,” said Todd Tillemans, president, US, The Hershey Company. “We pride ourselves on being equally competitive and compassionate, investing in communities, people and the snacks of the future. We are driving new snack occasions with offerings like Reese’s Thins, Hershey’s Emoji Bars, and KitKat Duos Mint + Dark Chocolate, and as a result, making more moments of goodness for our consumers.”
The innovative snacking powerhouse has transformed the candy aisle experience for shoppers, making products easier to find and more appealing. Hershey also continues to regenerate its power brands with the new offerings, all of which will be featured at Sweets & Snacks Expo, booth #1601.
New KitKat flavor
For the first time in almost a decade, a new KitKat flavor will be coming to the US and available nationwide in December 2019. The new Duos Mint + Dark Chocolate KitKat, will feature a mashup of two iconic flavors - mint crème on the top and dark chocolate on the bottom, all surrounding light and crispy wafers.
Reese’s has crested $2bn in retail sales this year. The company’s new innovation showcases how it continues to evolve. This year, the brand unveiled Reese’s Thins and Reese’s Lovers. Reese’s Thins are 40% thinner and individually wrapped for the perfect me-time snack. Reese’s Thins gives its fans a new choice for snacking and is just one example, says the company, of how it is meeting the needs of its consumers and staying relevant.
For the first time in 125 years, Hershey is changing its individual pips with the new Hershey’s Emoji Bars, helping the company reach parents of Gen Z as they head back to school. The Hershey’s Emoji Bars were created for parents to help their children establish a connection with their peers, and the bars provide them with a fun way to break the ice with classmates, teachers and friends during the back to school time period, the company claims.
Shopper data helping drive trips and baskets
As reported, earlier Hershey’s Retail Snacking Experience Team (ReSET) is using its industry leading shopper insights to support Hershey’s retail partners in creating a better shopper experience, helping both stores and shoppers win.
Also, during this week’s Sweets & Snacks Expo, Alan Tobin, Hershey’s director of category management for the Convenience Channel, will be discussing the future of convenience stores during his seminar, “Convenience Store Update: Sweets and Snacks Take the Lead," on Tuesday, May 21 at 1pm in the Discovery Theater.
Attendees will learn more about the opportunities and challenges that exist for convenience store retailers as retailers evolve to adapt the latest digital and mobile technologies to improve shopper experiences.