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Hershey Announces Second Quarter Results
    - Net Sales increase 5.1%

    - Earnings per share-diluted from operations $0.29

    - Outlook reaffirmed for 2008, growth in net sales 3-4%, with earnings per
      share-diluted from operations expected to be in the $1.85 to $1.90 range

HERSHEY, Pa., July 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) today announced sales and earnings for the second quarter ended June 29, 2008. Consolidated net sales were $1,105,437,000 compared with $1,051,916,000 for the second quarter of 2007. Net income for the second quarter of 2008 was $41,467,000 or $0.18 per share-diluted, compared with $3,554,000 or $0.01 per share-diluted, for the comparable period of 2007.

For the second quarters of 2008 and 2007, these results, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), include net pre-tax charges of $39.3 million and $124.4 million, or $0.11 and $0.34 per share, respectively. The majority of these charges were associated with the Global Supply Chain Transformation program announced in February 2007. Net income from operations, which excludes the net charges for the second quarters of 2008 and 2007, was $66,952,000 or $0.29 per share-diluted in 2008, compared with $81,671,000 or $0.35 per share-diluted in 2007.

Second Quarter Performance

"Hershey's second quarter results reflect the progress the Company continues to make in the marketplace," said David J. West, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Sales increased by 5.1 percent, driven by organic sales gains of 3.5 percent from pricing and overall growth in core brands and new products, offset by softness in snacks and refreshment. The Godrej Hershey Ltd. venture in India accounted for the remaining growth. Gross margin expanded slightly as pricing and supply chain savings offset higher commodity costs and the impact of integrating our business in India. Second quarter profitability, which was in line with our expectations, was curtailed by increased brand support, including costs associated with new product introductions, greater levels of retail coverage and investments within key international markets.

"U.S. retail takeaway in the second quarter, excluding the effect of Easter timing, increased 5.0 percent in channels that account for over 80 percent of our retail business. As a result, non-seasonal everyday market share was about equal to the prior year's second quarter in the channels measured by syndicated data. The results have been positive where we have focused our resources. In the U.S., advertising and consumer brand-building investment increased by about 30 percent in the second quarter. Activity was primarily concentrated in the Reese's and Hershey's franchises, including Hershey's Bliss, and Starbucks Chocolates.

"We're pleased with our U.S. marketplace performance in the second quarter as we improved in all classes of trade. The category has and will continue to grow. We expect Hershey's year-over-year core brand marketplace performance improvement to continue, benefiting from the new approach of our consumer-driven demand model."

First Half Results and Outlook

For the first six months of 2008, consolidated net sales were $2,265,779,000 compared with $2,205,025,000 for the first six months of 2007. Reported net income for the first six months of 2008 was $104,712,000 or $0.46 per share-diluted, compared with $97,027,000, or $0.42 per share-diluted, for the first six months of 2007.

For the first six months of 2008 and 2007, these results, prepared in accordance with GAAP, include net pre-tax charges of $69.9 million and $164.8 million, or $0.20 and $0.44 per share, respectively. The majority of these charges were associated with the Global Supply Chain Transformation program announced in February 2007.

Net income from operations, which excludes the net charges for the first six months of 2008 and 2007, was $150,867,000, or $0.66 per share-diluted, compared with $200,457,000 or $0.86 per share-diluted in 2007, a decrease of 23 percent in earnings per share-diluted.

"Hershey's first half results were in line with our expectations," West stated. "Net sales and marketplace performance improved, validating our strategy of increasing advertising and consumer investment behind core U.S. brands. The consumer-driven model unveiled last month is focusing the Company on brands and innovation that offer the greatest potential for sustainable sales and earnings growth.

"Marketplace momentum has continued as we enter the third quarter and we're encouraged about our prospects in the second half of the year. The Global Supply Chain Transformation program will deliver productivity savings during the remainder of the year. These savings, combined with price realization and good visibility into our cost structure in the second half of the year, will enable us to expand consumer investment, support solid seasonal programming and continue to build our international business. Therefore, for the full-year 2008, we continue to expect net sales growth of 3-4 percent and earnings per share-diluted from operations of $1.85 to $1.90."

Note: In this release, Hershey has provided income measures excluding certain items described above, in addition to net income determined in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures, as shown in the attached pro forma summary of consolidated statements of income, are used in evaluating results of operations for internal purposes. These non-GAAP measures are not intended to replace the presentation of financial results in accordance with GAAP. Rather, the Company believes exclusion of such items provides additional information to investors to facilitate the comparison of past and present operations. The aforementioned items relate to the Global Supply Chain Transformation program announced in February 2007 and the business realignment in Brazil announced in December 2007. The Global Supply Chain Transformation program is expected to result in pre-tax charges and non-recurring project implementation costs of $550 million - $575 million. Total charges include project management and start-up costs of approximately $60 million. In 2007, the Company recorded GAAP charges related to the Global Supply Chain Transformation program of $400.0 million, or $1.10 per share-diluted. Additionally, in the fourth quarter of 2007 the Company recorded business realignment and impairment charges of $12.6 million, or $0.05 per share-diluted, related to its business in Brazil. In 2008, the Company expects to record total GAAP charges of about $135 million - $145 million, or $0.39 - $0.42 per share-diluted. Below is a reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP items to the Company's earnings per share-diluted outlook:


                                                      2007       2008
    Reported / Expected EPS-Diluted                   $0.93   $1.43 - $1.51
    Total Business Realignment
     and Impairment Charges                           $1.15   $0.39 - $0.42
    EPS-Diluted from Operations*                      $2.08         --
    Expected EPS-Diluted from Operations*                     $1.85 - $1.90

    *From operations, excluding business realignment and impairment charges.


    Live Web Cast

As previously announced, the Company will hold a conference call with analysts today at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The conference call will be web cast live via Hershey's corporate website http://www.hersheys.com. Please go to the Investor Relations section of the website for further details.

Safe Harbor Statement

This release contains statements which are forward-looking. These statements are made based upon current expectations which are subject to risk and uncertainty. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Factors which could cause results to differ materially include, but are not limited to: our ability to implement and generate expected ongoing annual savings from the initiatives to transform our supply chain and advance our value-enhancing strategy; changes in raw material and other costs and selling price increases; our ability to execute our supply chain transformation within the anticipated timeframe in accordance with our cost estimates; the impact of future developments related to the product recall and temporary plant closure in Canada in the fourth quarter of 2006, including our ability to recover costs we incurred for the recall and plant closure from responsible third-parties; the impact of future developments related to the investigation by government regulators of alleged pricing practices by members of the confectionery industry, including risks of subsequent litigation or further government action; pension cost factors, such as actuarial assumptions, market performance and employee retirement decisions; changes in our stock price, and resulting impacts on our expenses for incentive compensation, stock options and certain employee benefits; market demand for our new and existing products; changes in our business environment, including actions of competitors and changes in consumer preferences; changes in governmental laws and regulations, including taxes; risks and uncertainties related to our international operations; and such other matters as discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2007. All information in this press release is as of July 23, 2008. The Company undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement to conform the statement to actual results or changes in the Company's expectations.



                             The Hershey Company
                 Summary of Consolidated Statements of Income
             for the periods ended June 29, 2008 and July 1, 2007
                   (in thousands except per share amounts)

                               Second Quarter              Six Months

                              2008         2007         2008         2007

    Net Sales             $1,105,437   $1,051,916   $2,265,779   $2,205,025

    Costs and Expenses:
      Cost of Sales          722,926      722,478    1,506,816    1,461,556
      Selling, Marketing
       and Administrative    266,612      216,870      516,561      433,303
      Business Realignment
       and Impairment
        Charges, net          21,786       79,728       25,871      107,273

      Total Costs and
       Expenses            1,011,324    1,019,076    2,049,248    2,002,132

    Income Before
     Interest and
     Income Taxes (EBIT)      94,113       32,840      216,531      202,893
    Interest Expense, net     23,610       29,213       47,996       57,468

    Income Before Income
     Taxes                    70,503        3,627      168,535      145,425
    Provision for Income
     Taxes                    29,036           73       63,823       48,398

    Net Income               $41,467       $3,554     $104,712      $97,027

    Net Income Per Share
      - Basic - Common         $0.19        $0.02        $0.47        $0.43
      - Basic - Class B        $0.17        $0.01        $0.43        $0.39
      - Diluted - Common       $0.18        $0.01        $0.46        $0.42

    Shares Outstanding
      - Basic - Common       166,624      168,309      166,701      169,078
      - Basic - Class B       60,806       60,815       60,806       60,815
      - Diluted - Common     228,664      231,963      228,798      232,841

    Key Margins:
      Gross Margin             34.6%        31.3%        33.5%        33.7%
      EBIT Margin               8.5%         3.1%         9.6%         9.2%
      Net Margin                3.8%         0.3%         4.6%         4.4%



                             The Hershey Company
            Pro Forma Summary of Consolidated Statements of Income
             for the periods ended June 29, 2008 and July 1, 2007
                   (in thousands except per share amounts)

                                Second Quarter             Six Months

                              2008         2007         2008         2007

    Net Sales             $1,105,437   $1,051,916   $2,265,779   $2,205,025

    Costs and Expenses:
      Cost of Sales          707,899(a)   681,171(d) 1,466,635(a) 1,410,390(d)
      Selling, Marketing
       and Administrative    264,169(b)   213,523(e)   512,684(b)   426,970(e)
      Business Realignment
       and Impairment
        Charges, net             ---( c )     ---(f)       ---( c )     ---(f)

      Total Costs
       and Expenses          972,068      894,694    1,979,319    1,837,360

    Income Before
     Interest and
     Income Taxes (EBIT)     133,369      157,222      286,460      367,665
    Interest Expense, net     23,610       29,213       47,996       57,468

    Income Before
     Income Taxes            109,759      128,009      238,464      310,197
    Provision for
     Income Taxes             42,807       46,338       87,597      109,740

    Net Income               $66,952      $81,671     $150,867     $200,457

    Net Income Per Share
      - Basic - Common         $0.30        $0.37        $0.68        $0.90
      - Basic - Class B        $0.27        $0.33        $0.61        $0.80
      - Diluted - Common       $0.29        $0.35        $0.66        $0.86

    Shares Outstanding
      - Basic - Common       166,624      168,309      166,701      169,078
      - Basic - Class B       60,806       60,815       60,806       60,815
      - Diluted - Common     228,664      231,963      228,798      232,841

    Key Margins:
      Adjusted Gross Margin    36.0%        35.2%        35.3%        36.0%
      Adjusted EBIT Margin     12.1%        14.9%        12.6%        16.7%
      Adjusted Net Margin       6.1%         7.8%         6.7%         9.1%


    (a)   Excludes business realignment and impairment charges of
          $15.0 million pre-tax or $10.0 million after-tax for the second
          quarter and $40.2 million pre-tax or $27.4 million after-tax for the
          six months.
    (b)   Excludes business realignment and impairment charges of $2.4 million
          pre-tax or $1.7 million after-tax for the second quarter and
          $3.9 million pre-tax or $2.2 million after-tax for the six months.
    ( c ) Excludes business realignment and impairment charges of
          $21.8 million pre-tax or $13.8 million after-tax for the second
          quarter and $25.9 million pre-tax or $16.4 million after-tax for the
          six months.
    (d)   Excludes business realignment and impairment charges of
          $41.3 million pre-tax or $26.3 million after-tax for the second
          quarter and $51.2 million pre-tax or $32.5 million after-tax for the
          six months.
    (e)   Excludes business realignment and impairment charges of $3.4 million
          pre-tax or $2.1 million after-tax for the second quarter and
          $6.3 million pre-tax or $3.9 million after-tax for the six months.
    (f)   Excludes business realignment and impairment charges of
          $79.7 million pre-tax or $49.7 million after-tax for the second
          quarter and $107.3 million pre-tax or $67.0 million after-tax for
          the six months.



                             The Hershey Company
                         Consolidated Balance Sheets
                  as of June 29, 2008 and December 31, 2007
                          (in thousands of dollars)

    Assets                                            2008           2007

    Cash and Cash Equivalents                        $45,427       $129,198
    Accounts Receivable - Trade (Net)                302,952        487,285
    Deferred Income Taxes                             44,913         83,668
    Inventories                                      697,569        600,185
    Prepaid Expenses and Other                       188,156        126,238

    Total Current Assets                           1,279,017      1,426,574

    Net Plant and Property                         1,492,694      1,539,715
    Goodwill                                         578,689        584,713
    Other Intangibles                                168,522        155,862
    Other Assets                                     559,770        540,249

    Total Assets                                  $4,078,692     $4,247,113

    Liabilities, Minority Interest and
     Stockholders' Equity

    Loans Payable                                   $436,246       $856,392
    Accounts Payable                                 281,152        223,019
    Accrued Liabilities                              486,128        538,986
    Taxes Payable                                      1,579            373

    Total Current Liabilities                      1,205,105      1,618,770

    Long-Term Debt                                 1,514,029      1,279,965
    Other Long-Term Liabilities                      527,693        544,016
    Deferred Income Taxes                            181,897        180,842

    Total Liabilities                              3,428,724      3,623,593

    Minority Interest                                 42,345         30,598

    Total Stockholders' Equity                       607,623        592,922

    Total Liabilities, Minority Interest
     and Stockholders' Equity                     $4,078,692     $4,247,113

SOURCE The Hershey Company

/CONTACT: Financial, Mark Pogharian, +1-717-534-7556, or Media, Kirk Saville, +1-717-534-7641, both of The Hershey Company/ /Web site: http://www.hersheys.com /

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