Key Stats
The Hershey Company stands as a leading North American manufacturer of chocolate and confectionery products. Founded by Milton Hershey in 1894, the company revolutionized the chocolate industry by making milk chocolate affordable for mass consumption.
Operating from its headquarters in Hershey, Pennsylvania, the company produces iconic brands including Hershey’s, Reese’s, Kisses, Kit Kat, and Jolly Rancher. The organization has expanded beyond traditional chocolate into snacking categories through strategic acquisitions.
The company maintains a unique ownership structure with the Hershey Trust Company controlling majority voting shares. This arrangement ensures the company’s profits continue supporting the Milton Hershey School, which educates over 2,000 students annually at no cost to families.
Hershey Company History
Hershey Company Founder
Hershey Company Market Cap
The company maintains a market capitalization of 38.74 billion dollars as of October 2025. Hershey’s market value has demonstrated steady growth over the past decade, reflecting strong brand equity and consistent financial performance.
Hershey Company Revenue
Hershey reported revenue of 11.49 billion dollars for the twelve months ending September 2025, representing a 4.71 percent increase year-over-year. The company achieved 11.20 billion dollars in revenue for the full year 2024.
Hershey Company Acquisitions
The Hershey Company has executed strategic acquisitions to diversify beyond traditional chocolate confectionery into adjacent snacking categories. The company’s acquisition strategy focuses on expanding market share and capturing growth in trending categories.
In April 2025, Hershey acquired LesserEvil, a savory snacks brand, for 750 million dollars. This purchase strengthened the company’s position in better-for-you snacking. The acquisition of Sour Strips in November 2024 brought a social media-driven sour candy brand into the portfolio.
Hershey’s largest acquisition occurred in December 2017 when the company purchased Amplify Snack Brands for 1.6 billion dollars. This deal added SkinnyPop popcorn and expanded capabilities in the growing snacking segment. In November 2021, the company acquired Dot’s Pretzels and Pretzels Inc for 1.2 billion dollars, establishing a strong presence in premium pretzel snacks.
The company acquired Lily’s Sweets for 425 million dollars in June 2021, entering the low-sugar and better-for-you confectionery market. In August 2019, Hershey purchased One Brands for 397 million dollars, adding protein bars to the product mix. The 2018 acquisition of Pirate Brands from B&G Foods for 420 million dollars brought Pirate’s Booty into the portfolio.
Earlier strategic acquisitions include the 2011 purchase of Brookside Foods, bringing fruit-flavored confections to the Canadian market. The 1996 acquisition of Leaf’s American operations added iconic brands including Jolly Rancher, PayDay, and Milk Duds. The 1977 acquisition of Y&S Candies made Hershey the leading licorice manufacturer with the Twizzlers brand.
The most significant historical acquisition remains the 1963 purchase of H.B. Reese Candy Company, which brought Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups under the Hershey umbrella. This acquisition proved transformative, as Reese’s became one of the company’s best-selling products.
Hershey Company Competitors
The Hershey Company faces intense competition from global confectionery and snack food manufacturers. Major competitors include Mars, Mondelez International, Nestle, Ferrero, and Lindt, all vying for market share in chocolate and snacking categories.
| Competitor | Headquarters | Key Brands |
|---|---|---|
| Mars | United States | M&M’s, Snickers, Twix, Milky Way |
| Mondelez International | United States | Cadbury, Toblerone, Oreo, Milka |
| Nestle | Switzerland | KitKat, Crunch, Smarties, Aero |
| Ferrero | Italy | Ferrero Rocher, Kinder, Nutella, Tic Tac |
| Lindt & Spruengli | Switzerland | Lindt, Lindor, Ghirardelli |
| Pladis | United Kingdom | Godiva, McVitie’s, Ulker |
| Tootsie Roll Industries | United States | Tootsie Roll, Dots, Junior Mints |
| General Mills | United States | Nature Valley, Fiber One, Cheerios |
| Hormel Foods | United States | Planters, Skippy, Spam |
| J.M. Smucker | United States | Jif, Uncrustables, Smucker’s |
FAQs
Who founded The Hershey Company and when?
Milton Snavely Hershey founded the Hershey Chocolate Company in 1894 as a subsidiary of his Lancaster Caramel Company. He pioneered mass production of affordable milk chocolate for American consumers.
What is Hershey Company’s current market capitalization?
The Hershey Company maintains a market capitalization of approximately 38.74 billion dollars as of October 2025, ranking as the world’s 599th most valuable company by market cap.
How much revenue does Hershey Company generate annually?
Hershey generated revenue of 11.49 billion dollars in the twelve months ending September 2025, representing a 4.71 percent increase year-over-year from the previous period.
Who are The Hershey Company’s main competitors?
Hershey’s primary competitors include Mars, Mondelez International, Nestle, Ferrero, and Lindt. These companies compete globally in chocolate confectionery, snacks, and related food categories.
What are Hershey’s most popular brands?
Hershey’s most popular brands include Hershey’s Chocolate, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Hershey’s Kisses, Kit Kat, Jolly Rancher, Ice Breakers, Twizzlers, SkinnyPop, and Dot’s Pretzels.