NEW YORK, July 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hershey Foods Corporation has just unveiled the World's Largest HERSHEY(R)'S KISSES(R) Chocolate in New York City to celebrate its latest masterpiece, HERSHEY'S KISSES Brand Rich Dark Chocolates.

The World's Largest HERSHEY'S KISSES Chocolate is six feet and nine inches tall, six-and-a-half feet wide, and weighs 6,759 pounds, which is equivalent to 675,900 regular-size KISSES chocolates. The weights and measurements of the oversized HERSHEY'S KISSES Rich Dark Chocolate were submitted to Guinness World Records for inclusion in their official records as the "Largest Chocolate Candy."

For the millions of HERSHEY'S KISSES lovers, especially the estimated 30 percent of chocolate lovers who prefer dark chocolate over milk chocolate, Hershey Foods is adding HERSHEY'S KISSES Rich Dark Chocolates to the permanent HERSHEY'S KISSES collection. This is the first time in nearly a decade that Hershey has added a new flavor to the HERSHEY'S KISSES family.

"Sales of the Limited Edition HERSHEY'S KISSES Brand Rich Dark Chocolates exceeded our expectations," said Don Gates, Director, KISSES Franchise, Hershey Foods Corporation. "Dark chocolate lovers have spoken, and Hershey Foods will meet the growing demand of consumers who prefer dark chocolate by offering a gigantic `HERSHEY'S KISS' to welcome the KISSES Rich Dark Chocolates into the HERSHEY'S KISSES family."

The World's Largest HERSHEY'S KISSES chocolate began as a stack of ten-pound chocolate blocks 53 layers high. Drawings with the block grid layout and KISSES chocolate circumference were made for each layer. A team of Hershey scientists and engineers built each layer of blocks from the center out using a plumb bob, a weight that hangs from a string, to get a true vertical line and maintain concentricity. The dark chocolate blocks were then "glued" together with molten chocolate and cooled.

With assistance from pastry chefs at The French Culinary Institute, the dark chocolate was then sculpted to form the iconic HERSHEY'S KISSES shape. An oversized royal purple foil wrap covers the chocolate and a giant three-and-a-half-foot plume that reads "Rich Dark" extends out of the foil atop the great work of art.

The World's Largest HERSHEY'S KISSES Brand Rich Dark Chocolate will be on display at the Metropolitan Pavilion through July 31, 2003. The Metropolitan Pavilion is located at 125 West 18th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues in New York City.

About HERSHEY'S(R) KISSES(R) Brand Rich Dark Chocolates

Wrapped in a dark purple foil with a plume that reads "Dark," HERSHEY'S KISSES Brand Rich Dark Chocolates have the same iconic shape and appearance as other HERSHEY'S KISSES Brand Chocolates.

Beginning in early July, the new HERSHEY'S KISSES Brand Rich Dark Chocolates became available on shelves at supermarkets, drugstores and mass merchandisers across the country and are available in 9.2-ounce and 12-ounce bags, which retail for approximately $2.49 and $2.99, respectively.

About HERSHEY'S(R) KISSES(R) Chocolates

HERSHEY'S KISSES Brand Chocolates, a little product with a big future, were first introduced in 1907. While it's not known exactly how KISSES got their name, it is a popular theory that the candy was named for the sound or motion of the chocolate being deposited during the manufacturing process. Milton S. Hershey, the corporation's founder, established a registered trademark for the "plume" extending out of the wrapper in 1924. A registered trademark for the configuration of HERSHEY'S KISSES in their familiar foil wrap established in 1976.

About Hershey's Tech Center

The design and construction of the World's Largest HERSHEY'S KISSES Chocolate were spearheaded by James Bew, Shawn Bennett and James Nelson from Hershey's Chocolate New Product Development group. This department consists of researchers, scientists and engineers who work closely with Hershey's marketing department to develop new chocolate products and advance them from concept to production. In addition, staff members provide technical support for the maintenance and optimization of existing brands as well as seasonal specialty items.

About The French Culinary Institute

The French Culinary Institute (FCI) was founded in 1984. At The FCI, students learn the 250 basic competencies that form the building blocks of all Western cuisine. In addition, The FCI offers a unique, six-week program of Artisanal Bread Baking; culinary, baking, pastry, and wine courses for serious amateurs, and Culinary Business courses in wine merchandising and restaurateuring. The French Culinary Institute has launched a new pastry Web site called PastryScoop.com whose mission is to support the increasing importance of pastry arts and pastry chefs in American and international cuisine and to promote a sense of community and increased creativity in the field.

About Hershey Foods Corporation

Hershey Foods Corporation (NYSE: HSY) is the leading North American manufacturer of quality chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery and chocolate-related grocery products. Some of the company's most popular products include HERSHEY(R)'S milk chocolate and milk chocolate with almonds bars, HERSHEY(R)'S KISSES(R) chocolates, REESE'S(R) peanut butter cups, JOLLY RANCHER(R) and TWIZZLERS(R) candies, HERSHEY(R)'S cocoa, and HERSHEY(R)'S syrup. The company also is a market leader in the gum and mint category with such well-known brands as ICE BREAKERS(R), BREATH SAVERS(R), and BUBBLE YUM(R).

SOURCE Hershey Foods Corporation
NOTE TO EDITORS: Please note: B-roll from this event will be available via satellite:
Thursday, July 31st at 2:00-2:15 PM ET and 4:00-4:15 PM ET
Friday, August 1st at 3:00-3:15 AM ET
Telstar 5-Transponder 8 (C-Band); Downlink Frequency: 3860 Horizontal; Audio: 6.2/6.8
Trouble number during feed: (201) 807-0572
CONTACT: Judy Hogarth of Hershey Foods, +1-717-215-3402 (cell), or jhogarth@hersheys.com; or Elizabeth Gaerlan of Edelman, +1-212-704-4489, or 1-917-604-4115 (cell), or elizabeth.gaerlan@edelman.com, for Hershey Foods
Web site: http://www.hersheys.com