Milton Hershey

Incredible and inspiring, the story of Hershey’s begins with the tale of one determined pioneer: Milton S. Hershey. Raised in rural central Pennsylvania, and hampered by the lack of a formal education, Milton Hershey would soon overcome the odds to become not only one of America’s wealthiest entrepreneurs, but also the visionary builder of a town and philanthropist whose open-hearted generosity still touches the lives of thousands.

More on Milton at:
TheHersheyCompany.com

The Hershey Company

The captivating story of Hershey’s spans nearly a century and a half of industrial and social change. It was in the year 1894 that candy manufacturer Milton Hershey made the decision to try adding chocolate coating to his caramels. Calling this new enterprise the Hershey Chocolate Company, he located it near the area he had been born, amid the rolling farmland of Derry Township, PA. By the summer of 1905, with the milk from nearby dairy farms and the spirit of hard-working local people, his new factory started turning out delicious milk chocolate.

More on The Hershey Company at:
TheHersheyCompany.com

The Hershey Legacy

For the farm boy who never had much of a chance at education, providing that opportunity for others was always an important priority. As early as 1909, Hershey and his wife Catherine established the Hershey Industrial School, a school for orphan boys we know today as the Milton Hershey School. In 1918 and with no fanfare, Hershey transferred the bulk of his considerable wealth, including ownership in the Hershey Chocolate Company, to the Hershey Industrial School.

More on The Hershey Legacy at:
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Timeline

1857

Milton S. Hershey is born!

1876

Milton starts his first candy business, Crystal A Caramels.

1893

World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago: Milton discovers the art of chocolate making.

1894

Milton first experiments with making chocolate… as a coating for caramels.

1900

First HERSHEY’S Milk Chocolate Bar is enjoyed by America.

1903

Ground is broken on Milton Hershey’s first factory.

1907

First HERSHEY’S KISSES Chocolates come off the line.

1908

HERSHEY’S Milk Chocolate with Almonds Bar launched.

1909

Hershey Industrial School, a school for orphan boys and future Milton Hershey School, is established.

1918

Milton Hershey donates all of his wealth and ownership of his company to the school.

1925

MR. GOODBAR Candy Bar introduced.

1926

Hello, HERSHEY’S Syrup!

1938

And then came KRACKEL Bar.

1939

HERSHEY’S Miniatures Chocolates introduced.

1941–45

World War II: HERSHEY’S produces more than a billion ration bars for the troops.

1971

Hello to HERSHEY’S SPECIAL DARK Chocolate Bar!

1989

HERSHEY’S SYMPHONY Milk Chocolate and Milk Chocolate with Almonds and Toffee Bars arrive.

1994

HERSHEY’S COOKIES ’N’ CRÈME Candy Bar and HERSHEY’S Milk Chocolate Nuggets introduced.

Today

HERSHEY’S is still making people happy… in 90 countries around the world!