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The merger in 1963 brought Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups into The Hershey Company through a tax-free stock exchange that would later represent billions in value.
Hershey acquired Y&S Candies in 1977. It brought the Twizzlers brand into its portfolio after over 130 years of independent operation.
Hershey’s briefly ventured into healthcare products in 1986 when they bought Luden’s cough drops. But they later sold the brand in 2001. Only keeping the 5th Avenue candy bar brand.
In 1988, Hershey secured U.S. manufacturing rights for Cadbury products except for gum and mints.
The acquisition of Leaf’s American operations in 1996 brought in six major brands into the Hershey portfolio, including Jolly Rancher and PayDay.
Hershey bought the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corporation in 2004 to try their luck in premium nuts before selling it in 2023.
Acquiring Berkeley’s Scharffen Berger in 2005 marked Hershey’s entry into premium chocolate manufacturing.
In 2005, The Joseph Schmidt Confections was acquired, which further strengthened Hershey’s position in artisanal chocolates.
Wanting to get into organic chocolate, Hershey bought Dagoba Organic Chocolate in 2006.
The acquisition of Brookside Foods in 2011 brought fruit-flavored confections to Hershey’s Canadian market.
The Krave Jerky acquisition in 2015 and the subsequent 2020 sale marked Hershey’s brief experiment with premium meat snacks.
In 2016, Hershey acquired barkTHINS for $290 million, helping them solidify their presence in premium chocolate snacks.
Hershey’s largest purchase was for $1.6 billion in 2017 when they bought Amplify Snack Brands, helping them to compete in the popcorn market.
The $420 million Pirate Brands acquisition in 2018 strengthened Hershey’s position in cheese-flavored snacks.
ONE Brands’ $397 million acquisition in 2019 brought Hershey into the protein bar market.
Looking for a low-sugar candy lineup in 2021, Hershey acquired Lily’s Sweets for $425 million.
Hershey’s $1.2 billion acquisition of Dot’s Pretzels in 2021 included both the brand and its manufacturing capabilities.
In 2023, Hershey purchased two popcorn manufacturing facilities to strengthen their snack production capacity.
The Sour Strips acquisition in 2024 brought a social media-driven sour candy brand into Hershey’s contemporary portfolio.
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