HERSHEY, Pa., March 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Kevin Harvick will drive a
specially painted No. 21 Chevrolet in the inaugural NASCAR Busch Series race -
the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriquez - on Sunday, March 6, 2005, in Mexico City.
Harvick's car will feature graphics of one of Mexico's leading brands of spicy
candy - Pelon Pelo Rico.
Hershey Foods, sponsor of the No. 21 Reese's Chevrolet Busch Series car,
is taking the opportunity to highlight one of its newest brands, and to
introduce the very popular Pelon Pelo Rico candy to the U.S. Hispanic market.
"Hershey is combining the excitement of NASCAR with one of Mexico's best
loved brands," said Tom Hernquist, Senior Vice President, President U.S.
Confectionery, Hershey Foods. "The Pelon Pelo Rico car will provide tremendous
exposure for this brand in the U.S. We are thrilled that Kevin will be
driving this car in the first NASCAR race in Mexico."
As for Harvick, he also is looking forward to this weekend, "I think
Mexico will prove to be a great move for NASCAR. The reaction from the
sponsors has been fantastic, as many will be sporting special paint schemes
for the race," continued Harvick. "Fans in Mexico City love racing and I am
sure that they will enjoy NASCAR."
About Pelon Pelo Rico
Hershey Foods' acquisition of Grupo Lorena in 2004 brings one of Mexico's
iconic brands into the Hershey Family. Lorena's top brand is Pelon Pelo Rico,
which roughly translates to the "Guy with the Yummy Hair." Lorena makes spicy
tamarind confections packed in play-value containers. Lorena invented the
format in which consumers use a plunger to push the candy out of a container.
With Pelon Pelo Rico, consumers lick the candy, which looks like hair coming
out of the character's head, hence the "Guy with the Yummy Hair."
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.
SOURCE Hershey Foods Corporation
-0- 03/03/2005
/CONTACT: Sue Karli, Hershey Foods Corporation, +1-717-534-7631/
/Web site: http://www.hersheynewsroom.com /
/Web site: http://www.hersheys.com /
(HSY)
CO: Hershey Foods Corporation; Pelon Pelo Rico; Grupo Lorena; NASCAR
ST: Pennsylvania, Mexico
IN: FOD SPT AUT
SU: HSP
MR
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6305 03/03/2005 14:05 EST http://www.prnewswire.com
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