Hershey’s Products Throughout the Years
1900
Milton Hershey introduced his first milk chocolate bar after developing a process that used fresh milk. The bar sold for five cents.
1907
HERSHEY’S KISSES Chocolates debuted. Their size made them easy to share, and their shape made them instantly recognizable.
1925
MR. GOODBAR Chocolate Bars combined milk chocolate with roasted peanuts. The bright yellow wrapper stood out on store shelves. This candy bar offered a new texture to the familiar taste of Hershey’s chocolate.
1928
HERSHEY’S Syrup brought chocolate into home kitchens in a new way. Families could stir it into milk, pour it over ice cream, or use it in baking. It extended Hershey products beyond candy bars and into everyday cooking.
1928
H.B. Reese, a former Hershey employee, created peanut butter cups coated in Hershey’s Milk Chocolate. The simple combination of peanut butter and chocolate quickly became popular.
1938
KRACKEL Bars introduced crisped rice into milk chocolate. The product gave customers a different texture without changing the base chocolate formula. It quickly became part of Hershey’s growing assortment of popular candy bars.
1939
HERSHEY’S Miniatures packaged several small bars together in one bag. Customers could sample different varieties in a single purchase.
1963
Hershey acquired the H.B. Reese Candy Company, bringing peanut butter cups into its growing lineup. Over time, REESE’S products became some of the most popular chocolate candy in the United States.
Today
The Hershey Company is a leading snacks provider, developing new flavors, seasonal varieties, and packaging while continuing to build on products introduced more than a century ago.
The Field Ration D Bar
During World War II, the U.S. Army asked Hershey to develop a chocolate bar that would withstand heat and provide emergency calories for soldiers. The bar was to weigh about 4 ounces, be resistant to heat, and serve as a source of high calories.
The result was the Field Ration D bar. It was dense, heat-resistant, and filling.
Hershey also supplied other, more familiar products during the war that provided soldiers with a comforting reminder of home.
The Products Lost to Time
Not every idea became a success. Like any manufacturer, Milton Hershey tested new flavors, formats, and packaging over the years. Some products succeeded. Others were short-lived.
Chocolate Cigars
Early vanilla sweet chocolate novelty shapes included chocolate cigars and chocolate cigarettes, as well as gems, fans, and other fanciful forms. By 1909, most of those playful shapes had disappeared from shelves. Milk chocolate bars had become the star, and simpler shapes were easier to make and ship.
Aero Chocolate Bar
In 1934, inspired by aerated chocolate from Europe, Hershey experimented with bars that contained tiny air bubbles. While the lighter texture attracted curiosity, the process proved difficult to sustain at scale.
The Not-So-Sweet Bar
Before Special Dark became a permanent part of the lineup, Hershey tested darker chocolate varieties, including products known as Not-So-Sweet, Bitter-Sweet, and Semi-Sweet. They appealed to customers who preferred a less sweet flavor.
Hershey’s Chewing Gum
Hershey Chocolate Company manufactured chewing gum between 1915 and 1924. The gum was first introduced under the name “Easy Chew,” and was sold in packs of six sticks for five cents.
The 50-50 Bar
The 50-50 Bar featured a generous amount of almonds mixed into milk chocolate. It was marketed as a “fancy good” product. Over time, simpler almond bars proved more practical for mass production.
Trivia About Hershey’s Products
1. Why did Hershey’s milk chocolate stand out from many European competitors?
Correct! Not quite — B is correct!
2. What makes a MR. GOODBAR Bar different from the original milk chocolate bar?
Correct! Not quite — A is correct!
3. Which of these was NOT a Hershey product experiment?
Correct! Not quite — D is correct!
4. What was the name of the chocolate bar Hershey produced for U.S. soldiers during World War II?
Correct! Not quite — C is correct!
Explore More of The Hershey Legacy
Making Hershey’s Chocolate
Discover the process that helped define an American classic, and see how Milton Hershey’s original methods compare to chocolate making today.
The School Built on Chocolate
Chocolate helped build a business. It also helped to build a legacy. Milton Hershey placed much of his wealth into a trust that continues to fund Milton Hershey School.
