HERSHEY, Pa., Feb 18, 2005 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Up until now, mega-stars, best friends and sisters Hilary and Haylie Duff have agreed on everything - from clothes to hairstyles to guys. But when the dynamite Duffs tasted Ice Breakers Liquid Ice mints from Hershey Foods Corporation, they came up with different answers to the puzzle posed by the popular product: "Is it liquid? Or is it ice?"

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050218/PHF003 )

Multi-talented stars Hilary and Haylie are the stars of a new Ice Breakers Liquid Ice television commercial, launched yesterday at a media event in New York City that captured their more-than-agreeable disagreement. Filled with liquid - yet as cool as ice - Ice Breakers Liquid Ice mints provide a powerful blast of flavor to deliver instant fresh breath.

"We agree on absolutely everything, especially the importance of fresh breath," said Hilary. "So when she thought that Ice Breakers Liquid Ice was liquid and I thought it was ice, well I knew she had to be right ... and she knew I had to be right!" Haylie said, "One thing we're both right about: Ice Breakers Liquid Ice totally rocks!"

To find out which Duff sister they see eye to eye with, Ice Breakers Liquid Ice lovers can log onto http://www.liquidorice.com and try to predict Hilary and Haylie's answers to a series of fun questions. Visitors to the site can also enter for a chance to win a grand prize of a Beverly Hills shopping spree with the Duffs.

"We're flattered that two of the hottest stars on the scene today are helping us spread the word about the coolest mints on the market," said Brandon Solano, Marketing Manager, Gum and Mints, Hershey Foods Corporation. "These two talented sisters represent a perfect fit for the brand."

Ice Breakers Liquid Ice was introduced in May of 2004 and has turned out to be a winner in the marketplace.

"Ice Breakers Liquid Ice brought significant innovation to the mint category and has become a favorite among consumers since launch," said Lynn Baumgartner, Marketing Director, Non-Chocolate and Refreshment, Hershey Foods Corporation. "We're confident that this year's campaign with Hilary and Haylie Duff will excite consumers, motivate retailers and help take the brand to the next level."

Ice Breakers Liquid Ice mints, now available in spearmint, cinnamon and the original cool mint, is a zero-calorie, flavor-packed way to get fresh breath fast. Sized to fit in a purse, pocket or backpack, Ice Breakers Liquid Ice mints now are available in convenient dual-packs. Consumers can find Ice Breakers Liquid Ice mints from Hershey Foods on shelves at supermarkets, drug stores, mass merchandisers, and convenience stores across the country.

About Hilary Duff

Hilary has become a music, film and television phenomenon thanks to an unbroken string of hits that began with her starring role in the Disney Channel Original Series "Lizzie McGuire." This summer, she plans to tour her new self-titled album, "Hilary Duff," which charted #2 on the Billboard 200 its first week of release. She also stars in Universal Pictures' "The Perfect Man."

About Haylie Duff

Haylie, also a singer and actress, recently starred in the critically acclaimed "Napoleon Dynamite" and is currently starring in a three-episode arc on CBS' "Joan of Arcadia," following Hilary's recent appearance on the show. Both sisters will executive produce and star in the upcoming film "Material Girls."

About Hershey Foods Corporation

Hershey Foods Corporation (NYSE: HSY) is a leading snack food company and the largest North American manufacturer of quality chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery products. With revenues of over $4 billion and more than 13,000 employees worldwide, Hershey Foods markets such well-known brands as Hershey's, Reese's, Hershey's Kisses, Kit Kat, Almond Joy, Mounds, York, Jolly Rancher, Twizzlers, and Ice Breakers as well as innovative new products such as Swoops and Hershey's S'mores. In addition to its traditional confectionery products, Hershey Foods offers a range of products specifically developed to address the nutritional interests of today's health-conscious consumer. These products include sugar-free Hershey's, Reese's and York candies, as well as Hershey's SmartZone bars for people seeking balanced nutrition. It also markets Hershey's cocoa, Hershey's syrup and other branded baking ingredients, toppings and beverages. Visit us at http://www.hersheynewsroom.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This release contains statements which are forward-looking. These statements are made based upon current expectations which are subject to risk and uncertainty. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Factors which could cause results to differ materially include, but are not limited to: changes in the confectionery and grocery business environment, including actions of competitors and changes in confectionery preferences; customer and consumer response to selling price increases; changes in governmental laws and regulations, including taxes; market demand for new and existing products; changes in raw material and other costs; pension cost factors such as actuarial assumptions, market performance, and employee retirement decisions; adequacy of the Company's bad debt reserve; the Company's ability to implement improvements to reduce costs associated with its supply chain; and the Company's ability to successfully implement its rationalization and realignment initiatives, as discussed in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for 2003.

SOURCE Hershey Foods Corporation

Judy Hogarth of Hershey Foods Corporation, +1-717-534-7216, jhogarth@hersheys.com; o Taryn Filiberto of Edelman, +1-212-819-4820, taryn.filiberto@edelman.com

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