HERSHEY, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As excitement for Team USA begins to build across the country with the official 100-Day Countdown to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY), official sponsor of the United States Olympic Committee and U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams, today unveiled new, patriotic-themed packaging on some of its most iconic brands. In support of Team USA, the 122-year old Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bar will be taking an unprecedented shift and switching the traditional silver lettering to red, white and blue for the first time in the history of the bar.
“Both Hershey and Team USA share a unique, irreplaceable place in the hearts, lives and memories of many Americans. We want our country and athletes to know that Hershey is here to help celebrate every moment. What better way than with a patriotic version of one of our signature products,” said Mary-Ann Somers, vice president and general manager, U.S. Confection, The Hershey Company. “We believe that the decision to change our iconic Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bar lettering for the first time in 122 years is a testament to how much we value our partnership with Team USA. Hershey is behind Team USA and we are here to express our support for our athletes as they complete their journey to Rio.”
The Team USA line of products, revealed today during a special event at the Hershey’s Chocolate World Attractions in New York City and Hershey, Pennsylvania, are available for purchase for the first time prior to national launch. The suite of patriotic products will be available nationally beginning on May 6, 2016. They will be available at mass, grocery, drug and specialty retailers nationwide including Walmart, Sam’s Club, Kroger, Walgreens and CVS, as well as Hershey’s Chocolate World locations and online at Amazon.com.
The full line-up of patriotic products includes Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bars, Hershey’s Milk Chocolate with Almond Bars, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Kit Kat Wafer Bars and Payday Bars. The special-edition products also include 12-ounce bags of Hershey’s Kisses Chocolates (wrapped in stars and stripes foil), Reese’s Miniatures, Hershey’s Miniatures, York Candies and Rolo Candies.
In addition to the launch of Team USA-themed product, Hershey’s is also proud to announce partnerships with 2012 U.S. wrestling gold-medalist Jordan Burroughs, 2012 U.S. Paralympic swimming gold-medalist Mallory Weggemann and U.S. Olympic swimming hopeful and Hershey, Pennsylvania, native David Nolan to its roster of athletes. Burroughs and Weggemann will be featured in Hershey’s chocolate new campaign as they prepare for their trips to the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio and Nolan will have the support from his hometown company in pursuit of making his first U.S. Olympic Team.
Hershey’s sponsorship of Burroughs, Weggemann and Nolan complement Hershey’s earlier partnership announcements with USA Gymnastics and Shannon Miller, the most decorated American gymnast in history and two-time Olympic gold medalist, who is now serving as a Hershey’s brand ambassador throughout the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
The Hershey Company partnered with the United States Olympic Committee in October 2015 and will support the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
For more information please visit www.hersheysteamusa.com.
About The Hershey Company
The Hershey Company, headquartered in Hershey, Pa., is a global confectionery leader known for bringing goodness to the world through its chocolate, sweets, mints and other great-tasting snacks. Hershey has approximately 21,000 employees around the world who work every day to deliver delicious, quality products. The company has more than 80 brands around the world that drive more than $7.4 billion in annual revenues, including such iconic brand names as Hershey's, Reese's, Hershey's Kisses, Jolly Rancher, Ice Breakers and Brookside. Building on its core business, Hershey is expanding its portfolio to include a broader range of delicious snacks. The company remains focused on growing its presence in key international markets while continuing to extend its competitive advantage in North America.
At Hershey, goodness has always been about more than delicious products. For more than 120 years, Hershey has been committed to operating fairly, ethically and sustainably. Hershey founder, Milton Hershey, created the Milton Hershey School in 1909 and since then the company has focused on giving underserved children the skills and support they need to be successful. Today, the company continues this social purpose through 'Nourishing Minds,' a global initiative that provides basic nutrition to help children learn and grow. From neighborhoods across the United States to the streets of Shanghai and Mumbai and villages of West Africa, our goal is to nourish one million minds by 2020.
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About the USOC
Founded in 1894 and headquartered in Colorado Springs, CO., the U.S. Olympic Committee serves as both the National Olympic Committee and National Paralympic Committee for the United States. As such, the USOC is responsible for the training, entering and funding of U.S. teams for the Olympic, Paralympic, Youth Olympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games, while serving as a steward of the Olympic and Paralympic Movements throughout the country. For more information, visit TeamUSA.org.
