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Home > News > Hershey announce sustainable expansion
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Hershey announce sustainable expansion |
 31st Jan – US chocolate giant Hershey have today announced a number of plans to reinforce their cocoa sustainability efforts in West Africa.
Over the next five years, Hershey intends to expand their programs by investing $10 million in the region. By 2017, Hershey aim to benefit 750,000 African cocoa farmers and over two million people in cocoa communities. Part of the plan is to launch Hershey Bliss products with 100% Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa
They will also expand their CocoaLink program in, which was launched in 2011 to provide cocoa farmers with low-cost mobile phones which could then be used for farmers to receive text and voice messages that enable them to improve farming practices, understand issues related to pests and adverse weather conditions, improve labour practices and ask questions of cocoa experts in real time. The plan is roll out this project in the Ivory Coast.
There is also the Hershey Learn To Grow Farm Program which has just been launched in association with Source Trust. This intends to create a farmer and family development centre in Ghana’s central cocoa region. The program will start this year and involve more than 5,000 cocoa community members, in addition to more than 1,000 farm families. The intention of the Program is to establish 25 community-based farmer organisations, assist the Government of Ghana to meet the goals of Ghana’s 2009-2015 National Plan of Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor (WFCL), and bring high-tech learning to rural farm villages through technology centres. Hershey estimates the company will directly impact 750,000 cocoa farmers and indirectly benefit more than two million West Africans by 2017.
JP Bilbrey, President and CEO of The Hershey Company, commented: “Hershey is extending our commitment with new programs to drive long-term change in cocoa villages where families will benefit from our investments in education, health and economic opportunities. Our global consumers want The Hershey Company to be a leader in responsible business practices and in finding smart ways to benefit cocoa communities. We are excited and humbled by this opportunity to create positive change in West Africa.”
Hershey have also expanded their reach in the UK by launching a number of their products in Asda superstores. The new arrivals are Hershey’s Cookies ‘n’ Creme Bar, Hershey’s Kisses Cookies ‘n’ Creme, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups Bars and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Miniatures.
Rob Benyon, Asda’s Head of Chocolate, commented: “We have been gobsmacked by the reaction to the launch of the new Hershey’s range in-store and online. We’ve doubled the number of Asda Facebook fans in a week on the back of this launch, which is unprecedented.” |
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