HERSHEY, Pa. -- New, contemporary packaging for Hershey's Miniatures Assortment officially hit retail shelves this week, the candy maker said. Packaging for both the bags and individual pieces will have a bolder presence on shelf and in the candy bowl.
The redesign was grounded in consumer insights, and the new Hershey's Miniatures design has already increased purchase intent and rate among consumers, the company said.
Packaging sustainability comes into play, as well. Each wrapper underwent a weight reduction, and the company removed 0.050 grams per wrapper. In one year, that equated to more than 271,800 pounds of wrappers saved--enough to fill 11 tractor trailers.
"Cutting our paper use saves 1,957 trees while cutting our aluminum use and the energy to produce it equates to turning off the electricity for one year in 56 homes," Hershey spokesperson Laura Renaud said. "At Hershey, we have had many packaging sustainability projects--more than 175 across three countries that have saved 14 million pounds of packaging material in just five years. These packaging projects are part of how Hershey conducts business with a purpose."
The first week in May, the company will release its third Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) report, which outlines its progress against its packaging sustainability goals. It will share a new packaging goal to reduce packaging by an additional 16 million pounds through 25 new initiatives by 2017, it said.
The company will also unveil a new CSR strategy "grounded in our belief that strong performance begins by operating effectively and ethically," said Renaud.
Hershey is the largest producer of quality chocolate in North America and a global leader in chocolate and sugar confectionery. Based in Hershey, Pa., it has operations throughout the world and approximately 14,000 employees. With revenues of more than $7.1 billion, Hershey offers confectionery products under more than 80 brand names, including Hershey's, Reese's, Hershey's Kisses, Hershey's Bliss, Hershey's Special Dark, Kit Kat, Twizzlers, Jolly Rancher and Ice Breakers.
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