HERSHEY, Pa., Feb. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Hershey Company
(NYSE: HSY) today announced that Andrea Thomas has been named Vice President,
Global Chocolate. Thomas, who joins Hershey from Frito-Lay, Inc. where she
was Vice President, Innovation, will be responsible for global platform
innovation and branding for Hershey's chocolate portfolio. She will report to
Thomas K. Hernquist, Senior Vice President, Global Chief Growth Officer.
"We see immense global opportunities for our core chocolate brands and for
launching new confectionery platforms to meet emerging consumer needs," said
Hernquist. "Andrea is an excellent choice to lead this effort. She has a
truly outstanding record of driving growth through innovation and her
commitment to winning in competitive markets will be invaluable."
In commenting on her new appointment, Thomas said, "Hershey's powerful
brands provide tremendous possibilities for growth. In Asia and the Americas,
Hershey is synonymous with quality chocolate, and I'm excited by the
opportunity to unlock the potential of these brands and to launch new
platforms to drive global growth. I have a great deal of respect for The
Hershey Company, its brands and its record of innovation, and I look forward
to joining its leadership team."
Thomas will lead the development of global brand growth strategies for
Hershey, define global positioning for the company's chocolate franchises such
as Hershey's, Kisses and Reese's, and create and launch new confectionery
platforms. She will work closely with Hershey's global research and
development and integrated business insights teams to deliver new benefits
that meet the needs of consumers in key international markets.
As Vice President, Innovation at Frito-Lay, Inc., Thomas was responsible
for managing Frito-Lay's salty snack innovation pipeline. Previously, she had
served as Vice President, Retail Marketing and Promotions, and led marketing
for the Fritos and Tostitos brands. Prior to joining Frito-Lay, Thomas was
Director, New Product Marketing, at Pizza Hut, Inc.
Thomas holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Utah and a master
of business administration from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.
The Hershey Company formed its Global Growth and Innovation Group in 2005
to focus on building global brands, developing benefit-driven growth platforms
for the short and long term, and strengthening marketing capabilities
worldwide.
About The Hershey Company
The Hershey Company (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, The Hershey Company markets such well-known brands as
Hershey's, Reese's, Hershey's Kisses, Kit Kat, Almond Joy, Mounds, Jolly
Rancher, Twizzlers, Ice Breakers, and Mauna Loa, as well as innovative new
products such as Take 5 and Hershey's Cookies. In addition to its traditional
confectionery products, Hershey 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, and PayDay Pro. It also markets Hershey's cocoa, Hershey's syrup and
other branded baking ingredients, toppings and beverages. In addition, Artisan
Confections Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Hershey Company, markets
such premium chocolate offerings as Scharffen Berger, known for its high-cacao
dark chocolate products, and Joseph Schmidt, recognized for its fine,
handcrafted chocolate gifts. Visit us at http://www.hersheynewsroom.com.
SOURCE The Hershey Company
-0- 02/14/2006
/CONTACT: Stephanie L. Moritz, The Hershey Company,
+1-717-534-7641/
/Web site: http://www.hersheys.com
http://www.hersheynewsroom.com /
(HSY)
CO: The Hershey Company; Frito-Lay, Inc.
ST: Pennsylvania
IN: FOD
SU: PER
FB
-- PHTU015 --
7410 02/14/2006 09:22 EST http://www.prnewswire.com
|
