Hershey Foods: Case Study

Examines Hershey’s marketing techniques and strategies.

This paper discusses the marketing techniques and strategies that have led to the overall success of the Hershey Foods company. The paper looks at the history and mission of Hershey Foods, key issues facing the company, the reasons for its successes and failures, and presents some marketing recommendations for the future.
The company was founded by Milton S. Hershey in the early 1900s . Milton Hershey opened his first candy shop in 1876; however this initial attempt at candy making proved an unsuccessful venture that closed down six years later. Persistent, Mr. Hershey continued to pursue the candy making endeavor, taking a position that allowed him to learn about caramel, and eventually opening the Hershey Chocolate Company in 1894 . He discovered that good quality is the key to consumer satisfaction. Mr. Hershey’s first offerings included breakfast cocoa, sweet chocolate and baking chocolate. In 1905 Mr. Hershey opened another chocolate manufacturing plant, this one which produced chocolate milk, a soon to become staple in the American diet.