Overview
The Hershey Company is a global confectionery and snacking business, with core operations in chocolate and other confectionery and a significant U.S. salty-snacks business. Its products include chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery, gum and mints, popcorn, pretzels, baked snacks, snack mixes, spreads and pantry products.[1][2][3]
Hershey’s North American operations cover the United States and Canada, while its international business includes manufacturing in Mexico, Brazil, India and Malaysia and sales across export markets in Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, Europe and Africa.[2][3][4] The company describes its purpose as “Making more moments of goodness.” [5] For the year ended December 31, 2025, net sales were $11.7 billion; in 2026, the company reported more than 20,000 employees and operations in approximately 65 countries.[6][7] Founded in 1894, Hershey was incorporated in 1927 as the successor to Milton S. Hershey’s business.[1] [1][2][3][4][6][5][7]
Products & services
Hershey’s products span chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery, gum and mints, protein bars, salty snacks, spreads, snack bites and mixes, and pantry products such as baking items, toppings and beverages. Chocolate and confectionery brands include HERSHEY’S, REESE’S, KISSES, Jolly Rancher, Kit Kat, Twizzlers, Cadbury, York and Lily’s; other offerings include ONE protein bars, ICE BREAKERS mints and gum, and BUBBLE YUM gum.[8][9]
Its salty-snack range includes popcorn, pretzels, baked snacks and puffed snacks. Examples include DOT’S HOMESTYLE seasoned pretzel twists, SKINNYPOP popcorn and PIRATE’S BOOTY aged white cheddar rice-and-corn puffs.[3][10][11][12][13] REESE’S products combine chocolate and peanut butter and are sold in formats including cups and miniatures; HERSHEY’S KISSES offerings include milk chocolate and varieties with almonds or white crème.[14][15][16]
For fiscal 2025, North America Confectionery accounted for 81.1% of net sales; North America Salty Snacks accounted for approximately 10.9%, and International for approximately 8.1%, based on reported segment sales. These are segment shares, not individual product or brand shares.[17][18] Hershey also operates Hershey’s Chocolate World visitor and retail activities, including Chocolate Tour and Create Your Own Candy Bar experiences.[2][19] [8][9][3][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][2][19][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][19]
Geographic presence
Hershey’s geographic footprint is concentrated in the United States and Canada, with international manufacturing and sales operations in Mexico, Brazil, India, and Malaysia. Its products are marketed, sold, and distributed in approximately 65 countries. International operations primarily serve consumers in their respective regions, while exports also reach Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa.[20][21][4]
In 2025, 12.3% of consolidated net sales were to customers outside the United States, and approximately 16% of long-lived assets were located outside the country, particularly in Canada, Malaysia, Mexico, Brazil, and India. By reportable segment, 2025 net sales were $9.48 billion for North America Confectionery (about 81.1% of total), $1.27 billion for North America Salty Snacks (10.9%), and $941.6 million for International (8.1%). These are segment figures, not a country-by-country sales breakdown; the North America Confectionery segment includes the United States and Canada.[22][17][18]
Principal facilities include manufacturing and distribution locations in several U.S. states, including Pennsylvania, Illinois, Virginia, Kansas, Indiana, Utah, Georgia, and New York; a distribution facility in Brantford, Ontario; manufacturing sites in Monterrey and El Salto, Mexico; and a manufacturing site in Johor, Malaysia. Hershey identifies facilities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico as primarily supporting its North America segments, and the Malaysia facility as supporting International.[23][24] [20][21][4][22][17][18][18][18][23][24]
Business segments
Hershey reports three operating and reportable segments. North America Confectionery covers confectionery and related snack products and activities in the United States and Canada, including chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery, gum and refreshment, protein bars, spreads, snack bites and mixes, pantry products, and food service. It represented approximately 81.1% of 2025 net sales.[17][18]
North America Salty Snacks focuses on salty-snacking products and represented approximately 10.9% of 2025 net sales.[25][18] International covers confectionery and other products manufactured, imported, marketed, sold, or distributed in markets outside North America, including Mexico, Brazil, India, and Malaysia, as well as export markets; it represented approximately 8.1% of 2025 net sales.[21][18] The percentages are calculated from reported segment net sales and total net sales; rounding causes them to sum to 100.1%.[18] [17][18][25][21]
Company history
Milton S. Hershey began in confectionery by founding the Lancaster Caramel Company in 1886. After encountering chocolate-making equipment at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, he established the Hershey Chocolate Company in 1894. He sold the caramel business in 1900 to focus on chocolate, selling his first Hershey bar that year; the company’s main factory was completed in 1905. HERSHEY’S KISSES followed in 1907.[26][27][28]
Milton and Catherine Hershey established the Hershey Industrial School in 1909, and Milton later placed his fortune in trust for the school. The present company was organized in Delaware in 1927 as successor to Hershey’s 1894 business.[26][29]
Hershey broadened its confectionery portfolio through the 1963 acquisition of H.B. Reese Candy Company and the 1977 acquisition of Y&S Candies, maker of TWIZZLERS. From 2015 onward, it also expanded into snacks and other categories, acquiring KRAVE in 2015, Amplify Snack Brands in 2018, ONE Brands in 2019, and Lily’s, Dot’s Homestyle Pretzels and Pretzels Inc. in 2021.[30][31][27][32][33][34] [26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34]
Sources
- HERSHEY CO — Full financial report (2025 Y)
- www.thehersheycompany.com[5]
- www.thehersheycompany.com[7]
- www.hersheyland.com[10]
- www.hersheyland.com[11]
- www.hersheyland.com[12]
- www.hersheyland.com[13]
- www.hersheyland.com[14]
- www.hersheyland.com[15]
- www.hersheyland.com[16]
- www.thehersheycompany.com[19]
- www.thehersheycompany.com[26]
- www.thehersheycompany.com[27]
- investors.thehersheycompany.com[28]
- www.thehersheycompany.com[29]
- investors.thehersheycompany.com[30]
- investors.thehersheycompany.com[31]
- www.thehersheycompany.com[32]
- www.thehersheycompany.com[33]
- www.thehersheycompany.com[34]
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