HERSHEY, Pa., Jun 10, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) --The Hershey Company and Hershey(R)'sChocolate World(R) attraction announce the grand opening of their newest experience, Hershey's Create Your Own Candy Bar, an interactive, hands-on attraction that immerses guests in the candy bar creation process. The family-fun attraction marks the first time Hershey will give consumers the ability to select their favorite candy bar ingredients, see authentic equipment in operation and design packaging for their custom chocolate candy bar.

"Hershey's Chocolate World's new Create Your Own Candy Bar attraction will allow each guest to play the role of a chocolate innovator," says Amy Hahn, General Manager, The Hershey Experience. "Giving people a chance to create their own chocolate bar and see how authentic factory equipment operates is not common in the chocolate industry. It marks another reason to visit Hershey's Chocolate World."

Wearing authentic outfits, including factory aprons and hairnets, guests will become the newest member of the Hershey innovationteam. Using similar equipment as Hershey factories, guests will create their custom candy bar by pulling a lever to activate the machinery and dispense ingredients. Guests can select up to three inclusions in each bar, choosing from ingredients such as graham crackers crumbs, crisped rice, blueberry fruit gels, chocolate cookie bits, vanilla chips and rainbow jimmies. After the inclusions are added, the candy bars are drenched in pure Hershey^(R)'s Milk Chocolate. Guests can even determine if they'd like to top their candy bar with Hershey^(R)'s Kisses^(R)-shaped sprinkles. After the bar cools, it is sealed, packaged and personalized with custom packaging that guests design at an interactive kiosk.

Unique to the chocolate industry, Create Your Own Candy Bar provides guests with the opportunity to track their customized bar in every step of the process, from start to finish, and watch as their name is transformed into its very own candy bar brand.

Create Your Own Candy Bar officially debuts to the general public at Hershey's Chocolate World attraction on Saturday, June 12, 2010 and will have an admission price of $14.95 per person, which includes the 30-minute experience and custom bar. For more information, visit HersheysChocolateWorld.com.

About the Hershey Experience

The Hershey Experience is the direct-to-consumer and experiential marketing division of The Hershey Company including Hershey's Chocolate World attraction, Hershey's Times Square and Hershey's Chicago stores, Hershey's Licensed Merchandise and Hershey's e-commerce initiatives. Hershey's Chocolate World attraction is the official visitor's center of The Hershey Company and is the most visited corporate visitor's center in the world, featuring Hershey's Great American Chocolate Tour^(R) ride, Hershey's Chocolate Tasting Adventure(TM) attraction, Hershey's Really Big 3D Show^(TM) experience and an entertaining tour of the town on the Hershey Trolley. Hershey's Times Square store, located at the crossroads of the world, and Hershey's Chicago store, situated on Chicago's Magnificent Mile, are interactive retail destinations that immerse visitors in the magic of Hershey's iconic brands. HersheysStore.com is the online destination for unique chocolate products, gifts, apparel and collectibles. In addition, The Hershey Experience operates retail and e-commerce businesses for Hershey's premium brands including Scharffen Berger, Dagoba and Mauna Loa candy brands.

About The Hershey Company

The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) is the largest producer of quality chocolate in North America and a global leader in chocolate and sugar confectionery. Headquartered in Hershey, Pa., The Hershey Company has operations throughout the world and more than 12,000 employees. With revenues of more than $5 billion, Hershey offers such iconic brands as Hershey's, Reese's, Hershey's Kisses, Kit Kat, Twizzlers and Ice Breakers as well as the smooth, creamy indulgence of Hershey's Bliss chocolates. Hershey is a leader in the fast-growing dark and premium chocolate segment, with such brands as Hershey's Special Dark and Hershey's Extra Dark. In addition, Artisan Confections Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Hershey Company, markets such premium chocolate offerings as Scharffen Berger and Dagoba. For more than 100 years, The Hershey Company has been a leader in making a positive difference in the communities where we live, work and do business. The Milton Hershey School, established by the company's founder in 1909, provides a nurturing environment, quality education, housing, and medical care at no cost to children in social and financial need. The School is administered by the Hershey Trust Company, Hershey's largest shareholder, making the students of Milton Hershey School direct beneficiaries of Hershey's success. Please visit us at www.hersheys.com.

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SOURCE: The Hershey Company

for The Hershey Company
Anna Lingeris
717.534.4874
alingeris@hersheys.com
or
Stephanie Florence
630.916.3042
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