Hershey Foods Corporation
Industry: Food Processing

Hershey Foods Corporation is the leading North American manufacturer of quality chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery and chocolate-related grocery products, and has a variety of international operations.

Business Summary
The Hershey Company, formerly Hershey Foods Corporation is engaged in the manufacture, distribution and sale of confectionery, snack, refreshment and grocery products. The Company's principal product groups include: confectionery and snack products sold in the form of bar goods, bagged items and boxed items; refreshment products sold in the form of gum and mints, and grocery products in the form of baking ingredients, chocolate drink mixes, peanut butter, dessert toppings and beverages. The Company manufactures confectionery and snack products in a variety of packaged forms and markets them under more than 50 brands. The different packaged forms include various arrangements of the same bar products, such as boxes, trays and bags, as well as a variety of different sizes and weights of the same bar products, such as snack size, standard, king size, large and giant bars. In December 2004, the Company acquired Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corporation (Mauna Loa).

Financial Summary
For the nine months ended 2 October 2005, The Hershey Company's revenues increased 10% to $3.48B. Net income decreased 20% to $335.1M. Revenues reflect a strong organic sales growth and sales contributions from two acquisitions. Net income was offset by higher selling, marketing and administrative expenses, the presence of business realignment charge, higher interest expense and lower gross margins.