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Social Impact

Succeeding Through People and Purpose

Michele Buck
President & CEO, The Hershey Company

Our industry faces a variety of challenges from changing consumer tastes, to an ever increasing digital influence on the retail shopping experience. But change is nothing new. The businesses that thrive in times of change are those that remain committed to succeeding through their people and purpose.

What we've set out to deliver this year requires that each of us bring our best thinking, passion and execution every day. As we move forward and put our efforts into accelerating business performance in the second half of the year, I urge you to remember the goodness Hershey brings through our brands, purpose and of course, each of you. It’s what makes Hershey, Hershey, and it’s foundational to all that we do.

Iconic Brands

We are fortunate to work on some of the most beloved brands in the marketplace. Our brand strength is one of the key pillars of our company’s reputation. With that said, I am very proud that we appeared No. 6 on The Forbes, Reputation Institute 2018 RepTrak 100, up two spots from last year. This is an amazing honor. We have one of the most trusted and respected corporate brands in America. With a strong brand heritage at our core and the expansion of our snacking portfolio, I'm excited for the future.

Remarkable People

At the cornerstone of the company is you, the remarkable people of Hershey. Recently, we were named No. 33 on DiversityInc. Top 50 list, recognizing the top corporations who continue to improve and demonstrate leadership and commitment to diversity and inclusion (D&I). The breadth and depth of the talent in this organization creates a competitive advantage for us. So I’d like to personally thank you for the inclusive environment we are continuing to advance at Hershey. Specifically, your work in advancing gender representation and growing inclusivity for our LGBTQ and Veteran colleagues. 

Company Purpose

Sharing Hershey goodness has recently taken a notable new path with last month’s launch of Cocoa For Good, a new cocoa sustainability strategy supported with a $500 million investment. Our work in cocoa-growing communities is critical to the long-term health of the cocoa sector and will help bring positive change for cocoa growers, their families and communities.

Additionally, we look forward to updating our environmental strategy and human rights policies this year. We will be working on these important initiatives in partnership with The Ceres Company Network, to improve the sustainability and resiliency in our operations and supply chain.

We have an aggressive business plan in 2018. While it will be challenging, I am proud of the organizational focus on profitable growth and the willingness to embrace new ways of working to drive our business forward. And we’re doing it together, as a team. Thank you for making Hershey an extraordinary place to work.

Here’s to many more outstanding accomplishments ahead.