The company's supply chain has been the focus in recent years of human rights groups, who have protested over the living and working conditions of cocoa farmers in Ghana and the Ivory Coast. Michelle Buck, Hershey's chief growth officer, said the company would be expanding it's CocoaLink network to the Ivory Coast, and has pledged to use 100 percent certified cocoa by 2020. 
Share:  The company's supply chain has been the focus in recent years of human rights groups, who have protested over the living and working conditions of cocoa farmers in Ghana and the Ivory Coast. <span class="sent"><span class="analyst">Michelle Buck</span>, <span class="company">Hershey</span>'s chief growth officer, said the company would be expanding it's CocoaLink network to the Ivory Coast, and has pledged to use 100 percent certified cocoa by 2020.</span> Tweet this   read full story

Equities research analysts at Credit Suisse raised their price target on shares of Hershey ( NYSE: HSY) from $90.00 to $103.00 in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, ARN reports. 
Share:  <span class="sent">Equities research analysts at Credit Suisse raised their price target on shares of Hershey ( NYSE: HSY) from $90.00 to $103.00 in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, ARN reports.</span> Tweet this   read full story

"It's a high margin product that seems to have market niche and doesn't overlap directly with what they have," Janney Capital Markets analyst Jonathan Feeney told Reuters. Hershey's gross margin expanded 2.4 percentage points to 46.5 percent in the quarter ended March 31. The candymaker expects gross margin to rise by 1.9 to 2.1 percentage points for the full year. Hershey has also stepped up its advertising spending, particularly for brands such as Twizzlers, Hershey Drops, Rolo and Jolly Rancher. "It's really impressive to see how the company's investments have paid off in terms of volume and (the results are) suggestive that these trends can continue," Feeney said 
Share:  <span class="sent">"It's a high margin product that seems to have market niche and doesn't overlap directly with what they have," Janney Capital Markets analyst <span class="analyst">Jonathan Feeney</span> told Reuters.</span> <span class="company">Hershey</span>'s gross margin expanded 2.4 percentage points to 46.5 percent in the quarter ended March 31. The candymaker expects gross margin to rise by 1.9 to 2.1 percentage points for the full year. <span class="company">Hershey</span> has also stepped up its advertising spending, particularly for brands such as Twizzlers, <span class="company">Hershey</span> Drops, Rolo and Jolly Rancher. "It's really impressive to see how the company's investments have paid off in terms of volume and (the results are) suggestive that these trends can continue," Feeney said....<span class="sent">"It's a high margin product that seems to have market niche and doesn't overlap directly with what they have," Janney Capital Markets analyst <span class="analyst">Jonathan Feeney</span> told Reuters.</span> <span class="company">Hershey</span>'s gross margin expanded 2.4 percentage points to 46.5 percent in the quarter ended March 31. The candymaker expects gross margin to rise by 1.9 to 2.1 percentage points for the full year. <span class="company">Hershey</span> has also stepped up its advertising spending, particularly for brands such as Twizzlers, <span class="company">Hershey</span> Drops, Rolo and Jolly Rancher. "It's really impressive to see how the company's investments have paid off in terms of volume and (the results are) suggestive that these trends can continue," Feeney said. Tweet this   read full story

Hershey also is looking to build its business in China and in other international markets. Wednesday, the company said Chief Financial Officer Humberto Alfonso will become president of its international division, where Hershey hopes to generate 25% of overall sales by 2017, up from about 10% in 2012. In the latest quarter, Hershey's sales outside the U. S and Canada rose 10%, including 20% growth in three of the countries where it's putting the most effort: Brazil, China and Mexico. In China, Hershey recently began advertising behind its namesake chocolate brand, which is helping grow market share in the fast growing country, Mr. Bilbrey said on Hershey's earnings call Wednesday. 
Share:  Hershey also is looking to build its business in China and in other international markets. <span class="sent">Wednesday, the company said Chief Financial Officer <span class="analyst">Humberto Alfonso</span> will become president of its international division, where Hershey hopes to generate 25% of overall sales by 2017, up from about 10% in 2012.</span> In the latest quarter, Hershey's sales outside the U. S and Canada rose 10%, including 20% growth in three of the countries where it's putting the most effort: Brazil, China and Mexico. In China, Hershey recently began advertising behind its namesake chocolate brand, which is helping grow market share in the fast growing country, Mr. Bilbrey said on Hershey's earnings call Wednesday. Tweet this   read full story