Hershey’s portfolio of brands entered the 2023 Easter and spring season with a strong tailwind of momentum—thanks to a successful 2022 full-year net sales and earnings report.
In early February, the Hershey, Pennsylvania-based confectioner, delivered what it calls “one of its strongest years in history despite record inflation, continued supply chain disruptions and macroeconomic uncertainty for many consumers,” said Michele Buck, chairman and CEO at The Hershey Co.
For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022, “tremendous hard work, perseverance and agility from every one of our employees and partners,” led to a net sales increase of 9.7% in the fourth quarter of 2022 (versus the same period 2021) for the brand's North America Confectionery segment, according to Buck.
Hershey’s U.S. candy, mint and gum (CMG) retail takeaway for the 12-week period ending January 1, 2023 in the multi-outlet combined plus convenience store channels (MULO+C), increased 10.7%.
“We expect to deliver another year of strong sales and earnings growth in 2023 as we invest in our amazing portfolio of brands, additional capacity and capabilities,” said Buck, who expects net sales growth of 6% to 8%—driven by net price realization as consumer demand remains steady behind higher advertising levels and increased capacity.
On the Easter 2023 new-product front, “we’ve brought back seasonal favorites such as Cadbury Royal Dark Chocolate Mini Eggs and Reese’s Peanut Butter Bunnies and introduced familiar delights like snack-sized Almond Joy in brand new festive packaging to assist in filling homes with sweetness this Easter,” said Stephen Tiemeyer, senior associate brand manager at The Hershey Co.
Click ahead for a glimpse of six Hershey’s Easter-inspired debuts this season ...
Cadbury Rainbow Mini Eggs (7- or 8-ounce bags): The new bright Cadbury Rainbow Mini Eggs come in rainbow with red, orange, yellow, green and blue. The vibrantly colored treats are made from Cadbury Milk Chocolate with a crisp sugar shell.
Almond Joy Snack Size (8.4- or 10.2-ounce bags): Each piece is individually wrapped in pastel seasonal graphics.
Hershey’s Solid Milk Chocolate Eggs Easter Egg-Shaped Gift Box (6.5-ounce box): The Gift Box makes an ideal Easter basket centerpiece, the supplier states. Milk chocolate is wrapped in a variety of pastel shades inside a giant egg.
Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs Easter Egg-Shaped Gift Box (6.5-ounce box): This gift box returns for a limited time—packaged in the shape of an egg.
Cadbury Dairy Milk, Milk Chocolate XL Bar (3.5-ounce bar): The Cadbury Bunny and colorful flowers are on display in this bar.
Get today’s need-to-know convenience industry intelligence. Sign up to receive texts from CSP on news and insights that matter to your brand.
CSP’s Top 202 details the largest chains in the convenience-store industry and the biggest M&A stories of the past year. Welcome to a deep dive into the c-store landscape.
Category sales performance in Beverages, Candy, General Merchandise, Packaged Food/Foodservice and Snacks.
The industry’s largest distributors by sales volume
Corporate retail news affecting the convenience-store industry
The latest information on products and trends in the convenience-store and foodservice industries.
Peek inside new convenience stores to uncover the best in retail store design across North America.