Quick facts
| Founded | 1894 by Milton S Hershey in Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Country | USA (Hershey, Pennsylvania) |
| Made by | The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) |
| Dietary status | Contains milk; not vegan; check pack per variant |
About Hershey's
Hershey's was founded in 1894 by Milton S Hershey in Pennsylvania, originally as a chocolate-coating manufacturer for caramels before pivoting to mass-market milk chocolate. The Hershey Company built the town of Hershey, Pennsylvania around its chocolate plant. The brand defined American milk chocolate flavour through its distinctive recipe, which uses butyric acid notes (often described as "tangy" or "sour" by European palates) that emerged from the milk-pasteurisation process in early production. The same Hershey Company owns Reese's, Kit Kat (in the US only), Twizzlers, Almond Joy and many other American sweet brands.
The Hershey's range we stock
Hershey's American chocolate variants and imports.
| Product | Profile |
|---|---|
| Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar | The iconic American milk chocolate bar. Distinctive tangy-sweet profile |
| Hershey's Kisses (standard) | Foil-wrapped chocolate teardrops. Classic American chocolate gift format |
| Hershey's Cookies n Creme | White chocolate with cookie pieces. Very popular American variant |
| Hershey's Hugs | Milk chocolate "hugged" by white chocolate stripes. Twin to Kisses |
| Hershey's Kisses Almond | Kisses with whole almond centres |
| Hershey's Special Dark | Dark chocolate variant. Less tangy than the standard Hershey bar |
Ingredients and allergens
Standard Hershey Bar contains milk chocolate (sugar, milk, chocolate, cocoa butter, milk fat, lactose, soy lecithin, PGPR, vanillin, salt). Contains milk and soy. Not vegan. The distinctive "tangy" or "sour" flavour American palates take for granted is from butyric acid created during the milk treatment process. The Cookies n Creme variant contains wheat (gluten). Not formally halal certified across the range. The brand has historical concerns around cocoa sourcing from West Africa; check Hershey's published sustainability sourcing reports for current practices. Always check the back of each individual product for the most accurate allergen and dietary information.
Who Hershey's imports are for
American chocolate enthusiasts: Hershey's defines the American chocolate flavour profile. Many UK shoppers find it different from British and European milk chocolate (Cadbury, Nestle European), with the tangy-sweet profile being polarising. Some shoppers love it, others find it strange.
Cookies n Creme fans: the white chocolate and cookie variant is one of the most-loved American chocolate variants and is not stocked in UK supermarkets at any meaningful scale. Pair with our Oreo imports for cookies-and-cream variety.
S'mores and baking shoppers: Hershey's Milk Chocolate is the canonical s'mores chocolate. Pair with American graham crackers and marshmallows for authentic American s'mores building.
Gift box and Kisses gifting: Hershey's Kisses are an American gifting and party-favour staple, particularly for Valentine's Day. The foil-wrapped format works for individual gifting.
Buy Hershey's online in the UK
Build your basket from across the Hershey's range and our wider American sweets selection to qualify for free UK delivery over £20. Hershey's pairs especially well with our Reese's (same parent company) and M&M's imports. Order before our daily cut-off for same-day dispatch.
Hershey's: frequently asked questions
Why does Hershey's chocolate taste different from UK chocolate?
Hershey's milk chocolate has a distinctive tangy, slightly sour flavour profile that comes from butyric acid created during Hershey's specific milk treatment process (the milk is intentionally lipolised before being added to the chocolate). This produces compounds that European palates often describe as "off" or "vomit-like" while American palates consider it the authentic chocolate taste they grew up with. The chemistry is different from Cadbury, Galaxy or Continental European chocolate, which use milk treated differently.
Does The Hershey Company own Reese's?
Yes. The Hershey Company acquired the H.B. Reese Candy Company in 1963 and has owned Reese's ever since. Reese's products use Hershey's chocolate as the coating around the peanut butter centre, which is part of why Reese's Peanut Butter Cups taste recognisably American. Hershey also owns Twizzlers, Almond Joy, Mounds, Whoppers, Jolly Rancher and many other American sweet brands.
Why doesn't UK Kit Kat taste like American Kit Kat?
Because they're made by different companies. UK Kit Kat is made by Nestle (the global owner), while US Kit Kat is licensed to The Hershey Company. American Kit Kat uses Hershey's milk chocolate recipe (with the tangy butyric notes) while UK Kit Kat uses Nestle's recipe. The wafer interior is similar but the chocolate coating tastes meaningfully different between the two.
Are Hershey's vegan?
No. All standard Hershey's products contain milk and are not vegan. Hershey has launched some plant-based variants in the US in recent years (Hershey's Plant Based) but the standard range we stock contains dairy. For vegan chocolate alternatives, see our broader vegan sweets range.