The Hershey Co. has announced its purchase of Ripple Brand Collective, a privately held company based in Congers, N.Y. The company owns barkTHINS, a snacking chocolate brand largely sold in the United States in take-home resealable packages.
“This acquisition is a great addition to our Hershey chocolate portfolio and enables us to expand our mass premium offerings into this growing and on-trend category,” says Michele Buck, president, North America, The Hershey Co. “BarkTHINS is a very attractive and uniquely crafted brand that essentially created a new form of chocolate snacking. We look forward to building barkTHINS by leveraging Hershey’s scale at retail.”
Since its launch in 2013, barkTHINS has quickly become popular thanks to its commitment to using simple ingredients, Fair Trade cocoa, non-GMO certification, and no artificial flavors or preservatives. Made with high-quality dark chocolate, nuts, and other ingredients, the brand addresses key consumer trends like premium ingredients and snacking.
Annual net sales of the business are expected to be in the $65-75 million range.
“We’re proud of the rapid development of the brand since our launch in 2013 and look forward to the next phase of accelerated growth that Hershey can provide,” says Scott Semel, founder and ceo, Ripple Brand Collective. “Our unique proposition, brand equity and outstanding team give us confidence that there is tremendous upside for barkTHINS with a confectionery leader like Hershey.”
Hershey’s reveals patriotic packaging
But that’s not the only change in store for Hershey
As the official 100-Day Countdown to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony begins ticking, Hershey has unveiled new, patriotic-themed packaging on some of its most iconic brands to show its support for the U.S. team.
The confectioner is the official sponsor of the U.S. Olympic Committee and U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams.
The 122-year-old Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bar will, for the first time in its history, switch its traditional silver lettering to red, white, and blue.
Other products in the patriotic line-up include Hershey’s Milk Chocolate with Almond Bars, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Kit Kat Wafer Bars, and Payday Bars.
The suite of patriotic products will be available nationally on May 6, with an early launch at the Hershey’s Chocolate World Attractions in New York City and Hershey, Pa.
The company also announced partnerships with 2012 wrestling gold-medalist Jordan Burroughs, 2012 Paralympic swimming gold-medalist Mallory Weggemann, and Olympic swimming hopeful and Hershey, Pa., native David Nolan.
“Both Hershey and Team USA share a unique, irreplaceable place in the hearts, lives and memories of many Americans. We want our country and athletes to know that Hershey is here to help celebrate every moment. What better way than with a patriotic version of one of our signature products,” says Mary-Ann Somers, vice president and general manager, U.S. Confection, The Hershey Co. “We believe that the decision to change our iconic Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bar lettering for the first time in 122 years is a testament to how much we value our partnership with Team USA. Hershey is behind Team USA and we are here to express our support for our athletes as they complete their journey to Rio.”
