HERSHEY, Pa., April 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hershey Foods Corporation
(NYSE: HSY) today announced that Michele Buck has been named Senior Vice
President of the Corporation and President of its recently formed U.S. Snacks
Group. In this position, Buck will serve as an officer of the corporation and
will report to Richard H. Lenny, Chairman, President and Chief Executive
Officer.
"Michele is an excellent addition to the Hershey executive team," said
Lenny. "Her extensive experience across multiple snack categories and her
strong track record will enable us to quickly and successfully execute our
snack market strategy as we extend our reach into this growing market."
Buck joins Hershey from Kraft Foods, where she was Senior Vice President
and General Manager, Kraft Confections. In that position, Buck had
responsibility for the Kraft U.S. confections business including its
LifeSavers, Altoids, CremeSavers and Toblerone brands. Her previous positions
with Kraft include Vice President, Marketing - Confections; and Vice
President, Marketing - Planters snack nuts. Buck has also held marketing
positions with Frito-Lay and Kraft General Foods.
"I'm excited by the opportunity to join Hershey," said Buck. "Hershey's
brands and innovative products have generated excitement in the snack market.
I have great respect for the company and its culture and look forward to
working with the executive team and the Snacks business group to grow this
business."
Buck will join Hershey in mid-April. She and her family will relocate to
the Hershey area. Buck is from Central Pennsylvania and received a bachelor's
degree from Shippensburg University. Buck holds a master's degree in business
administration from the University of North Carolina.
Hershey announced the creation of the new U.S. Snacks business group,
along with a U.S. Confectionery business group, earlier this year. Both groups
are supported by the company's global operations, sales and administrative
capabilities. The new business groups will strengthen Hershey's leadership by
capitalizing on Hershey's iconic brands, confectionery and nut expertise, and
leading-edge business systems.
Hershey is building momentum in adjacent snack segments with the recent
introductions of the SnackBarz line, Hershey's Smart Zone balanced nutrition
bars, a line of premium cookies, and the acquisition of the Mauna Loa
macadamia snack nut company.
About Hershey Foods Corporation
Hershey Foods Corporation (NYSE: HSY) is a leading snack food company and
the largest North American manufacturer of quality chocolate and non-chocolate
confectionery products. With revenues of over $4 billion and more than 13,000
employees worldwide, Hershey Foods markets such well-known brands as
Hershey's, Reese's, Hershey's Kisses, Kit Kat, Almond Joy, Mounds, York, Jolly
Rancher, Twizzlers, and Ice Breakers as well as innovative new products such
as Swoops and Hershey's S'mores. In addition to its traditional confectionery
products, Hershey Foods offers a range of products specifically developed to
address the nutritional interests of today's health-conscious consumer. These
products include sugar-free Hershey's, Reese's and York candies, as well as
Hershey's Smart Zone bars for people seeking balanced nutrition. It also
markets Hershey's cocoa, Hershey's syrup and other branded baking ingredients,
toppings and beverages. Visit us at http://www.hersheynewsroom.com.
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: changes in the Company's business
environment, including actions of competitors and changes in consumer
preferences; customer and consumer response to selling price increases;
changes in governmental laws and regulations, including taxes; market demand
for new and existing products; changes in raw material and other costs;
pension cost factors such as actuarial assumptions, market performance, and
employee retirement decisions; successful resolution of upcoming labor
contract negotiations; and the Company's ability to implement improvements to
reduce costs associated with its supply chain, as discussed in the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2003.
SOURCE Hershey Foods Corporation
-0- 04/07/2005
/CONTACT: Stephanie Moritz, Hershey Foods Corporation, +1-717-534-7641/
/Web site: http://www.hersheys.com /
http://www.hersheynewsroom.com /
(HSY)
CO: Hershey Foods Corporation
ST: Pennsylvania
IN: FOD
SU: PER
MR
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5295 04/07/2005 15:01 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com
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