Hershey Sales Grow In Q1, Improves Forecast

During its first quarter 2012, The Hershey Co. posted a net sales increase of 10.7 percent compared with the same period the year prior, totaling $1.7 billion. Strong sell-through for the Easter season, along with the acquisition of Brookside Foods, Ltd., positively impacted the company’s sales numbers, according to Hershey. “In the second quarter, shipments of our new products will accelerate with innovation in chocolate, sugar confectionery and mints”, says President and CEO John Bilbrey. Looking ahead, the company says it estimates a full-year net sales growth of seven to nine percent, an increase from its previous forecast of 6.5 to 8.5 percent.