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The history of Hershey’s Kisses began from a stolen idea to a seasonal treat that continues to delight consumers.
Introduced in 1907, Hershey’s Kisses were modeled after Wilbur Buds, which were tear-shaped chocolates created by Henry Oscar Wilbur in 1894.
Hershey’s Kisses started production with manual wrapping that continued until 1921.
Milton Hershey improved the manufacturing process by replacing hand-molding with a droplet method onto conveyor belts. This helped him mass-produce the tear-shaped candy.
The new and improved efficiency helped The Hershey Company to dominate the market despite a 1909 lawsuit from Wilbur claiming imitation.
In 1921, the company added its distinctive “plume,” trademarked in 1924, to Hershey’s Kisses to differentiate the product from Wibur’s candies.
After that, Wilbur Buds maintained only a niche market presence.
The name “Hershey’s Kisses” likely originated from one of two sources:
All we know for sure is that Milton S. Hershey trademarked the name in 1921.
During World War II (1942-1947), The Hershey Company had to temporarily halt Hershey Kiss production due to aluminum rationing.
Instead, they manufactured over 3 billion D-Ration bars for U.S. military personnel.
These bars, developed in 1937 per Army specifications, were designed to be high-energy, heat-resistant, and unpalatable to prevent casual consumption.
After the war ended, Hershey Kiss production resumed.
In 1963, Hershey, Pennsylvania designed and installed Hershey’s Kisses-shaped street lights on Chocolate Avenue.
Samuel Hinkle, the then president of Hershey, commissioned electrical engineer Don Chubb to create a design reflecting the town’s identity.
After reviewing proposals from several manufacturers, they selected Line Material Company’s design featuring alternating wrapped and unwrapped Kisses.
The 105 streetlights, nicknamed “Hinkle’s Twinkles,” were first illuminated on December 23, 1963, with ten additional lights later installed on Park Avenue.
They continue to light the night sky to this day.
Hershey’s famous “Christmas Bells” commercial debuted in December 1989.
The first ad featured Hershey’s Kisses as a handbell choir performing “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”
The 15-second stop-motion animation showed red and green foil-wrapped Kisses conducted by a silver Kiss, ending with a red Kiss wiping its brow.
John Dunn, then Hershey’s Kisses brand manager, conceived the idea while working with Ogilvy & Mather and Colossal Pictures.
In 2012, Hershey’s updated the ad with CGI animation for high-definition viewing, later modifying the closing slogan in 2019.
A recent 2020 version incorporating live-action faced backlash, prompting Hershey’s to air both versions simultaneously.
This is The Hershey Company’s longest-lasting commercial in its history.
In 2007, The Hershey Company created a record-breaking chocolate to mark HERSHEY’S KISSES’ 100th anniversary.
This 30,540-pound creation, equivalent to over 3 million standard Kisses, featured a seven-foot paper plume and required 16,460 feet of foil wrapping.
It was constructed from fused chocolate pieces, earning Guinness World Record status as the largest individual chocolate.
Hershey’s Kisses has launched many flavor varieties throughout the years.
Their 2021 limited-edition “Bacote” flavor combined dark chocolate with bacon bits, creating a sweet-savory profile.
The company has also previously released “Dr. Pepper” Kisses, fusing milk chocolate with soda flavoring and “Cheesecake” variants.
Seasonal offerings have included “Pumpkin Spice” in white chocolate with autumn spices.
The “Candy Corn” Kisses featured tricolor layers mimicking traditional Halloween candy, while 2018’s “Hot Cocoa”version contained marshmallow centers.
Internationally, “Green Tea” Kisses have appeared in Asian markets, blending matcha with white chocolate.
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