Hershey is the leading confectionery company in the chocolate and mints categories in the U.S. (also #3 in gum and sweets). Founded in 1894, the company has a long history of growing the category through innovating, acquiring or licensing many of the well-known confection brands today. Hershey owns more than half of the top candy brands that generate over $500M in revenues annually in the U.S., which include Hershey’s, Reese’s, KitKat (licensed), Ice Breakers, and Kisses. The company sells almost 3B Hershey bars annually and 70M Kisses every day.
Great write up. Hershey gets cheap once or twice a decade a very rare buy and forget you own it business. Our grand children will be eating Reeses cups decades from now and will always take on the slight price increases every other year.
Hello Thanks for the write-up. You point many interesting aspects of the business. Confectionery businesses are very resilient all over the world and some of the best are not listed (Mars and Ferrero)
After all, once established, they all are selling sugar at premium. One thing I missed here is a lack of any assessment for things that did not work well. For instance, based on your report, the company seems to have a bad record in M&A
Great write up. Hershey gets cheap once or twice a decade a very rare buy and forget you own it business. Our grand children will be eating Reeses cups decades from now and will always take on the slight price increases every other year.
Thanks! That's probably the best way to buy most good consumer staples companies.
Price is now very good for this one?
Agreed. Lawrence Hamtil has a good take on valuation now vs. history on Twitter.
Fab work sir
Thanks Conor!
Hello Thanks for the write-up. You point many interesting aspects of the business. Confectionery businesses are very resilient all over the world and some of the best are not listed (Mars and Ferrero)
After all, once established, they all are selling sugar at premium. One thing I missed here is a lack of any assessment for things that did not work well. For instance, based on your report, the company seems to have a bad record in M&A