How to Get a 131-Year-Old Workhorse Chocolate Brand to Worker Harder?

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The candy and snacks maker Hershey, whose portfolio also includes famous names like Reese’s and Twizzlers, has increased its marketing budget by 20% to fund the brand’s first new advertising campaign in eight years. The Hershey Company spent $600 million total on advertising expenses in 2024.

Hershey wants its 131-year-old, workhorse chocolate brand to work a little harder.

“Our goal is to fill in the gaps,” she [Stacy Taffet, chief growth officer of Hershey] said, referring to candy shopping occasions outside of Halloween and Easter, and to households without children who eat sweets.

Learn more about Hershey's plan to experiment with new product iterations to grab headlines and drive year-round sales.  You'll also learn a little about the power of familiarity.

One of the Sweetest Places On Earth: Hershey's Chicago Retail Store

©Laurel Delaney 2011.  All rights reserved.

"All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt." ~ Charles M. Schulz

Have a fabulous weekend!

Global Artistry in Delectable Dark, Milk and White Chocolates

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We promised to provide you with unique gift ideas during the holiday season, and this one, Norman Love, is made in the U.S.A.

Norman Love® blends a master’s appreciation of the sensuous with the art of the chef to create handcrafted chocolates ... exquisite, silky, rich chocolates ... reserved for those who expect nothing less than perfection. Norman Love Confections® has been satisfying connoisseurs of fine chocolates since 2001, when the chocolatier first introduced the masterpieces he produces at his facility in Fort Myers, Florida.

Today, Norman enjoys international recognition for the incomparable, handcrafted natural sweets with tastes and textures that arouse the senses.

Think about someone special in your life -- employee, partner, spouse, friend, colleague, client, vendor, etc. -- and whether they might be in the mood for a nice surprise from you.

Learn more here.

Do You Make Chocolate?

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If you manufacture chocolate, then you should be thinking about exporting to or making it in India.

Still, Cadbury estimates that more than half of India's more than one billion people have never tasted chocolate. Traditional milk-based sweets still dominate the industry, and even those are mostly eaten during festival times. That's why, like other candy companies, Cadbury sees giant potential in India.

Read more here to find out why.