The Hershey Co. has partnered with Chef'd, an online meal-kit marketplace, to bring desserts to the rapidly growing meal-kit market.

Not only does the partnership mark the launch of the desserts category for Chef'd, it's also the first time branded desserts will enter the online meal-kit market. That market is currently growing 300 percent annually and is poised to grow to $36 billion over the next decade.

Chef'd will provide a new distribution channel for The Hershey Co.'s portfolio of brands – one that aligns with the changing ways in which people shop and cook. Through the partnership, dessert preparation will be easier for online consumers, who can access all the portioned ingredients needed to create their favorite desserts in a few clicks.

“We’re pleased to partner with Chef’d to be the first to bring branded desserts to the meal kit market. Hershey is committed to offering our beloved brands every place where people shop,” says Carrie Lathrop, manager, e-commerce and emerging channels, The Hershey Co. “The rise of the meal-kit market is undeniable – boxes provide unprecedented convenience while maintaining the engaging experience of home baking.”

The collection of recipes offered includes ones from Hershey's Kitchens, as well as from Scharffen Berger, an artisan chocolate subsidiary of The Hershey Co. The recipes cater to all skill levels and taste preferences, offering consumers everything they need to make creative desserts they can share.

Since its launch last year, Chef'd has been regarded as having revolutionized the meal-kit delivery business by offering a high level of choice and re-ordering flexibility while helping existing brands enter the market. The company has, so far, partnered with established chefs, culinary personalities and trusted organizations. It sets itself apart by being able to fulfill fresh ingredients directly to consumers on a national basis for major brands.

And that famed Chef'd flexibility certainly applies to its new partnership with Hershey. Consumers can order dessert meal kits without a subscription or membership fees. The recipes from Hershey's Kitchens and Scharffen Berger can also be ordered as standalone offerings or in conjunction with any other Chef'd meal.

Dessert offerings from Hershey's Kitchens include:

  • S'mores Cookies

  • Red Velvet Cream Cheese Squares

  • Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies

  • White Chip Lemon Bars

  • No-Bake Toffee Fudge Bars

  • Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

Recipes from Scharffen Berger include:

  • Flourless Chocolate Raspberry Torte

  • Unbelievable Fudgy Brownies

  • Chocolate Studded Oatmeal Bars

  • Judith Ets-Hokins Chocolate Fondue

Prices range from $2-4 per serving, and consumers can purchase them from Chef'd as well as from websites for Hershey's Kitchens and Scharffen Berger.

“Hershey is taking a leadership position as the first confection brand to sell dessert kits on our site, and we are thrilled to be working with them to get the kits to consumers nationally,” says Kyle Ransford, founder and ceo of Chef’d. “We think they are trendsetting and others are going to follow.”