To meet the changing needs of their consumers, The Hershey Company is continuing to evolve and innovate across their portfolios to provide great-tasting products. These latest innovations debuted at the National Confectioners Association’s annual Sweets & Snacks Expo in Chicago.
“Our innovation starts with the consumer,” said Michele Buck, President North America, The Hershey Company. “As their lifestyle and taste profiles change, we innovate even our most iconic brands’ portfolios, to make sure we’re providing them with products that fit their evolving needs. At this year’s Sweets & Snacks Expo, we’re debuting several new innovations that feature fresh takes on favorite confections as well as on-the-go snacks with a variety of tastes and textures.”
Confection at its Core
A confection company at its roots, Hershey is bringing consumers new ways to enjoy some of its most beloved and iconic brands. Hershey introduced Reese’s Pieces Peanut Butter Cups, a mash-up of two of its most iconic and beloved products – Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup with Reese’s Pieces Candies in every bite. This new innovation was devised as a way to combine the peanut butter tastes and textures that consumers love about the Reese’s brands into an entirely new confection experience.
The company also expanded the portfolios of some of its newer brands with flavorful confection innovations, including the launch of Brookside Tablet Bars in three intriguing and extraordinary combinations: Blueberry Almond with Acai Flavor, Cranberry Almond with Blood Orange Flavor and Mango Coconut Crisp.
Leader in “Snackfection”
Using more than a century of innovation and confectionery experience, Hershey is evolving to fit changing consumer tastes and eating habits with the introduction of new “snackfection” products. These appeal to consumers looking for variety in their snacks with a full sensory experience that combines the sweet flavors Hershey is known for with salty and crunchy elements while permitting for on-the-go elements to make snacking more convenient for consumers.
At the Sweets & Snacks Expo, Hershey sampled new Brookside Yogurt-Flavored Fruit and Nut Bars, and Brookside Dark Chocolate Fruit and Yogurt Bars. These two products were introduced after the success of the multi-sensory, multi-textural Brookside Crunchy Clusters, as Hershey recognized the desire among consumers for a wholesome, snack option that combines sweet and salty flavors with extraordinary textures that is also made with simple, familiar ingredients.
In addition to wholesome ingredients, like almonds, Brookside Yogurt Flavored Fruit & Nut Bars are gluten-free, non-GMO bars that contain no artificial flavors.
Hershey also highlighted varieties of their new snack bites and mixes varieties, which include a number of products based off of its iconic brands, including Hershey’s and Reese’s. The mixes provide a combination of sweet, salty, crunchy and creamy.