News & Analysis on Chocolate, Candy and Cocoa
The sweets and snacks giant trimmed its outlook for the full year despite surging second quarter sales as it braces for the full impact of potential tariffs and higher cocoa costs
The confectionery space is evolving fast – from AI and agile R&D to stealth health and consumer-first design. Here are seven insights from industry leaders on how to innovate successfully in 2025
The FDA’s PFAS deadline has passed and US brands are now under intense scrutiny. Hershey’s two simultaneous class-action lawsuits underscore just how high the stakes have become for the industry
As cocoa prices soar and consumer tastes shift, industry leaders from Hershey to the most promising alt-choc start-ups share how they’re rethinking chocolate
Sweets & Snacks Expo
The Hershey Company is doubling down on flavor innovation, cross-category growth and consumer-driven launches — from legacy brand extensions to buzzy partnerships
Sophisticated formulation strategies are stripping back their launches to single ingredients, sustainable stances and speciality ingredients
Hershey is doubling down on innovation in 2025, unveiling a bold product lineup and a transformed packaging strategy at this year’s Sweets & Snacks Expo
Barry Callebaut, Mondelēz International and Hershey International rethink production strategies to manage the cocoa crisis
The blue chip posted a steep profit drop in Q1 2025, but investments in healthier snacks offer hope
From Hershey’s cinnamon toast crunch collab to Stockley’s jam roly poly twist, meet the latest confectionery launches shaking up shelves in 2025
From Galentine’s gifts to Easter marshmallows, meet the latest confectionery launches disrupting the industry in 2025
The Hershey Trust has rejected Mondelēz International’s second attempt to acquire confectionery giant Hershey, citing the offer as too low.
The Oreo and Ritz brand owner is reportedly eyeing a gamechanging acquisition of The Hershey Company
Hershey says weight management medications, GLP-1 drugs, have had a ‘mild year-on-year impact’ on its business.
The multinational candy maker aligns with shoppers’ interest in value-oriented products reflected through its Reese’s and Kit Kat brands, while Jolly Ranchers' brand refresh features new textures and formats.
From a super-king sized Kit Kat to an advent calendar first for Perfetti Van Melle meet the latest confectionery launches disrupting the industry
In its latest brand extension, Hershey is hoping some consumers like it hot. Here's what's behind the move
Confectionery brands are now offering custom experiences that go beyond taste, making every bite uniquely memorable. Here we examine four game-changing trends
New product development
From an unexpected Coca-Cola x Mondelēz mash-up to Halloween fever at Hershey, meet the latest confectionery launches disrupting the industry
As the CPG reports on its income accelerator program, we dive into the detail of its initiative.
A new study suggests four top tips for chocolate creators
In recent years, consumer demand and evolving government regulations have led to significant advancements in sustainability within the confectionery sector.
With Reese’s collaborating with One to launch a high protein iteration of the iconic peanut butter cup, should other manufacturers be looking at this functional ingredient too?
Employing veterans, building schools and slashing packaging and emissions are just some of the ways the chocolate firm has earned its ESG credentials
From Skittles supporting Pride to a supersized Reese’s Cup, these are the latest products launching around the globe
Sweets & Snacks Expo 2024
Hershey arrived in Indianapolis for this year’s Sweets & Snacks Expo with a raft of new products – and latest innovations in augmented reality (AR) as part of its retail capabilities and merchandising strategies.
As consumers’ ethical values become ever more baked into their confectionery choices, from Hershey to Mondelez and Nestle, we explore the ways brands are pivoting to more sustainable practises
Finanical results
The Hershey company reported an uptick in sales, income, and earnings per share when it announced net sales and earnings for the first quarter ended 31 March, 2024.
World Cocoa Conference 2024
Against a backdrop of cocoa topping $11,000 per metric ton on the futures market for the first time last week, Oxfam says its experts will be highlighting the discrepancies in farmgate price at this week’s World Cocoa Conference (WCC) in Brussels (21-24...
Easter 2024
Hershey is hitting Easter with its Reese's Peanut Butter Mini Eggs Unwrapped, a poppable sensation that adds a touch of innovation to the cherished seasonal traditions.
International Women's Day
Hershey has announced it is marking International Women's Day (Friday, 8 March) and Women's History Month with limited-edition Hershey's SHE bars highlighting the impact of women and girls from all walks of life.
The Hershey Company may be best known for its eponymous chocolate bars, but the company is betting big on gummies this year with significantly increased production capacity to support innovation and a new partnership model, including a collaboration with...
Amsterdam Cocoa Week
Procurement came under the spotlight at Chocoa’s recent Amsterdam Sustainable Cocoa Conference when it convened a panel of specialists to discuss why the practice is not just about buying beans - transactions should go a lot deeper in the value chain and...
Financial results
The Ferrero Group said it is continuing its growth trajectory with a 21% increase in turnover to €17 billion ($18.25bn) and a 14% rise in its global workforce to 47,212 employees, following the recent successful strategic acquisition of North of ice...
WCF Partnership Meeting 2024
Tricia Brannigan, chief procurement officer and VP of Global Procurement at The Hershey Company, was in Amsterdam for WCF’s recent annual Partnership Meeting. She spoke exclusively to Confectionery News on the WCF’s fresh strategy and Hershey’s role in...
Commodities
Love may be in the air this Valentine's Day – but so is the eye-watering price of cocoa on the market, making the cost of the key ingredient in chocolate more expensive than ever, according to analysts.
Hershey is launching a multi-year cost-savings strategy that will lean heavily on enhanced automation and a more efficient operating model, which could result in job cuts, to help offset historically high cocoa prices and elevated sugar costs that are...
Marketing
The Hershey Company has teased a ‘Big Game’ commercial for its Reese's brand during this year’s mega sporting event.
Financial results
Higher prices to combat slower demand pushed Hershey’s shares up approximately 3% on Wall Street before trading opened on Thursday (26) as the market reacted to higher-than-expected quarterly sales and profit in its third-quarter 2023 Financial Results.
Special report
Consumer Reports (CR), a US independent, non-profit member organisation, has doubled down on its campaign against lead and cadmium in chocolate and urges changes after a new survey finds a third of products contain ‘concerning’ levels of heavy metals.
J.K. Rowling’s beloved series branched out into movies, theme park rides, retail and virtual reality experience for a value of $15 billion—and now is expanding its foothold in confections by adding limited edition Harry Potter-themed Hershey's Milk...
Financial results
The Hershey Company has announced an increase of 5.0% in consolidated net sales and an organic, constant currency net sales also of 5.0%. In its Second-Quarter 2023 Financial Results, it also updated its full-year reported earnings outlook to reflect...
The breakfast cereal giant has joined forces with one of the largest chocolate manufacturers in the world to launch Kellogg’s Hershey’s Chocos on the Indian market.
Sweets & Snacks Expo 2023
Hershey continues to innovate its popular Kit Kat brand by unleashing a limited edition churro flavour at the Sweets & Snacks Expo, just in time for summer.
Sustainability
Charity calls for ‘Big Chocolate’ to pay more to Ghana’s cocoa farmers after it revealed that their net incomes have fallen on average by 16% since 2020, with women’s incomes falling by nearly 22%.
Hershey's net sales increased 12.1% to $2.98bn thanks to price and volume gains across both confectionery and salty snack segments, driven heavily by consumer demand and media investments.
Marketing
The Hershey Company is set to remain the ‘Official Confectionery Partner’ of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) after a six-year extension was agreed upon with Paramount-owned CBS and Warner Bros Discovery, which oversee the NCAA’s...
Hershey is gaining market share in the US confection market while its top competitors fall farther back by replacing its old playbook of innovating and marketing to masses with a more targeted “occasion-based” approach to product development and “mass...
Seasonal
After receiving an impressive number of votes from animal lovers across the country, Crash the Cat from Boise, Idaho, has been crowned the winner of Hershey’s fifth-annual Cadbury Bunny Tryouts, 'Rescue Pets Edition', the company has announced.
Hershey is making more of the sweets and snacks consumers want with less and overcoming extreme supply chain challenges by replacing and repurposing underutilized manufacturing capacity, ditching conventional lines in favor of more efficient modular...