COCOALINK

“COCOALINK- Connecting Cocoa Communities” is a first-of-its kind program that uses mobile technology to deliver practical information on agricultural and social topics to rural cocoa farmers. This program, initiated and funded by The Hershey Company in collaboration with the World Cocoa Foundation and the Ghana Cocoa Board, will use Ghana’s rapidly growing mobile phone infrastructure to reach more than 8,000 Ghanaian cocoa farmers and community members. Sixty nine percent of cocoa farmers in Ghana already have a cell phone, which allows COCOALINK to communicate with a significant number of Ghanaian cocoa farmers and provide them with the valuable information they need to be more successful and increase their earnings. The program has been implemented on the ground in partnership with the World Cocoa Foundation and the Ghana Cocoa Board, known in Ghana as COCOBOD.

Although there is a wealth of cocoa-farming and agricultural husbandry information now available to Ghana’s 700,000 cocoa farmers, the challenge is getting this information into their hands because they live mostly in remote areas without easy access to information. COCOALINK creates an innovative, yet simple, way to disseminate critical information to cocoa farmers that can have a positive impact on the lives of their children and families.

Through voice and SMS text messages delivered in their local language or English, cocoa farmers will receive - at no charge - useful information about improving farming practices, farm safety, child labor, health, crop disease prevention, post-harvest production and crop marketing. They will also be able to share information and receive answers to specific cocoa-farming questions.

“Harnessing emerging technology that directly benefits farmers and their communities will dramatically accelerate the flow of information to the cocoa regions. Because any Ghanaian farmer with a mobile phone can sign up for COCOALINK, we expect more than 100,000 cocoa farmers and their families to benefit from this program during the next three years,” said Andy McCormick, Hershey’s Vice President of Public Affairs.

DAGOBA Sourcing High-Quality Cocoa from Peru

In 2010, DAGOBA, our organic chocolate brand, partnered with Romex to create a direct sourcing model in order to develop a sustainable supply of high-quality cocoa from Peru. Through this program, on-the-ground personnel work closely with local Peruvian cocoa farmers to improve agriculture and post-harvest techniques.

We are making direct investments in building tree nurseries and centers to help improve production and yields. The seeds planted in the new nurseries will be from cacao trees with high yields and strong disease resistance. When the trees mature, farmers and their families will directly benefit from the higher yields.

HERSHEY'S CONTINUED COMMITMENT

By 2017, Hershey will expand and accelerate programs to improve cocoa communities by investing in West Africa and continuing to work with experts in agriculture, community development and government to achieve progress with cocoa farmers and their families. The programs include certified products, expanding COCOALINK into the Ivory Coast, opening the HERSHEY LEARN TO GROW farm and family development center in Ghana, and a $10 million commitment to reduce child labor and improve the cocoa supply in West Africa. These public and private partnerships will directly benefit 750,000 African cocoa farmers and over two million people in cocoa communities across the region. Read More.

World Cocoa Foundation

We are a founding partner of the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) and have been a supporter since 2000. As a non-profit membership foundation, the WCF promotes a sustainable cocoa economy through giving cocoa farmers the tools and information to increase their crop yield and cocoa quality, market their cocoa, and make greater profits. WCF also provides programming to improve the livelihoods of farmers and their families worldwide. Through our dedicated support of the World Cocoa Foundation, we are sustaining two of its innovative flagship initiatives, ECHOES Alliance and the Cocoa Livelihoods Program among other projects.

WCF ECHOES Alliance

The ECHOES program is a comprehensive youth educational and teacher training program that focuses on basic education, agricultural practices, entrepreneurship and leadership skills as well as information on HIV/AIDS, child labor and malaria. The program aims to expand the opportunities for young people through relevant education in their local schools. The program also includes after-school agricultural programs and clubs, leadership training, community literacy classes, family support scholarships and the creation of community resource centers. The ECHOES program has directly impacted over 23,000 youth and adults and enhanced the lives of more than 440,000 people in Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire (from ECHOES Annual Stakeholder Report, 2010).

WCF Cocoa Livelihoods Program

The Cocoa Livelihoods Program is a five year, $40 million initiative that began in 2009. The program is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 15 chocolate industry companies, including The Hershey Company. The goal of the program is to significantly improve the livelihoods of approximately 200,000 cocoa farmers in Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia and Nigeria.

The program increases cocoa farmers’ incomes by enhancing their knowledge of agricultural techniques, production technologies, crop diversification and business. Farmers’ new skills are making a difference in increasing their yields and their profits as well as the livelihoods of their families.

Family Health International

We are partners in Family Health International’s efforts to address malaria, one of the world’s major causes of death for young children in developing nations. Through our support, thousands of insecticide-treated mosquito bed nets have been distributed in the cocoa-growing regions of Cote d’Ivoire. Distributors have also focused on educating recipients on proper net use and retreatment, early signs of malaria, and proper sanitation methods to keep mosquitoes from breeding. Educating recipients helps maximize the program’s success rate.

AIM-PROGRESS

We joined AIM-PROGRESS in 2010. This group of 25 global companies representing over $500 billion dollars in annual revenues works to maintain common responsible sourcing standards. With the AIM-PROGRESS network of companies, Hershey engages with suppliers to establish programs that improve their sourcing practices.

Global Marketing Principles

We are committed to the responsible marketing of our products. Our strong values guide our behavior in all aspects of our brand-building work, and we apply these values to all consumer communications worldwide.

Hershey applies its Global Marketing Principles to all forms of media designated for consumers, including broadcast and cable television, print advertising, radio, online and digital advertising and video.

Our Global Marketing Principles

HERSHEY’S TRACK & FIELD Games

HERSHEY’S TRACK & FIELD Games is the largest youth sports program of its kind in the United States and Canada. The program strives to get kids between the ages of 9 and 14 moving while building their self-esteem in a fun, active way. Through this program we are getting kids on the right track, teaching them lifelong lessons, and helping them have fun every step, leap, jump and throw along the way. HERSHEY’S TRACK & FIELD Games has impacted over 10 million youth since 1977. Visit our HERSHEY’S TRACK & FIELD Games site for additional information on our long-standing youth sports program.

In 2011, HERSHEY’S TRACK & FIELD Games teamed up with Nike Reuse-A-Shoe to add an environmental aspect to our youth sports event. Nike Reuse-A-Shoe is a unique program that collects old, worn-out athletic shoes and recycles them into Nike Grind, a material used in athletic and playground surfaces, as well as select Nike products.

HERSHEY’S TRACK & FIELD Games collects worn-out shoes from participants, their friends, families and communities at local and provincial meets as well as the North American Final. A participating community receives a HERSHEY’S TRACK & FIELD Games Play Space made out of Nike Grind.

MODERATION NATION

MODERATION NATION is a national wellness campaign sponsored by the HERSHEY CENTER FOR HEALTH & NUTRITION in collaboration with the American Dietetic Association (ADA) and the American Council on Exercise (ACE). This initiative promotes achieving balance through moderation in nutrition and physical activity while enjoying chocolate as part of a balanced lifestyle.

MODERATION NATION offers a number of unique tools and resources to help consumers achieve a balanced lifestyle:

• - Online MODERATION NATION dance demonstration
• - Access to ADA Member Registered Dietitians and ACE trainers
• - Moderation Menus
• - Meal Balancer tool
• - Free, downloadable food journal
• - MODERATION NATION ACTIVITY SNACK Mobile App for iPhones
• - MODERATION NATION Facebook page

An important part of the 2011 MODERATION NATION program is the Batuka dance, a South American dance that’s meant to provide a fun way to stay active with friends and family. Nancy O’Dell, the spokesperson for MODERATION NATION, kicked off the 2011 campaign by leading participants in the Batuka dance.

HERSHEY CENTER FOR HEALTH & NUTRITION

The HERSHEY CENTER FOR HEALTH & NUTRITION studies the chemistry and health benefits of cocoa, chocolate, nuts and other nutritious ingredients. The results infuse new information into existing brands and guide new product and program development. The health benefits are also communicated to customers, consumers and key stakeholders. The HERSHEY CENTER FOR HEALTH & NUTRITION’s site provides more information on its research.

One of the HERSHEY CENTER FOR HEALTH & NUTRITION’s latest program partnerships is with BioMed Central, which delivers free research journal access to low-income countries. The free access allows scientists and researchers to use the latest technical, scientific, and medical information. The HERSHEY CENTER FOR HEALTH & NUTRITION is the first representative of a U.S. food company to become a supporting member of BioMed Central.

Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation

The Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation is dedicated to helping Americans of all ages bring their diet and exercise into better balance. Changing public health requires innovative thinking, a commitment to partnership and responsible action, and Hershey is proud to be a founding member of the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation. This initiative compliments Hershey's long-time support for children's health and fitness. As a leading manufacturer of quality chocolate and confectionery products, The Hershey Company is committed to taking a leadership role in providing consumers with choices within our sector that meet every lifestyle. For more information, visit the Health Weight Commitment Foundation site.

Together Counts

Together Counts was initiated by the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation. It’s a nationwide program inspiring active and healthy living. The principle behind the program is Energy Balance, meaning the balance between calories consumed and calories burned, simply known as calories in, calories out. Together Counts encourages families to plan healthy activities together because there’s no force more powerful than family. For more information, visit the Together Counts site.

At the Hershey Company, we care a great deal about our customers and aligning with their CSR goals. In 2010, we created the CSR Sales Advocate program to better support and understand our customers’ CSR initiatives.

CSR Sales Advocates

There are 55 CSR Sales Advocates working in communities across the United States and Canada to engage with field personnel, to mobilize local support for customer philanthropic events and to communicate regularly with the CSR Department.

The CSR Department and the CSR Sales Advocates have monthly meetings to help the department understand customer needs as well as provide the sales advocates with valuable resources to make them more effective.

CSR Sales Advocates and the CSR Department partner together to complete the CSR sections of customer scorecards and/or supplier conduct cards. This allows the CSR Department to better understand our customers’ CSR priorities.

Lastly, the CSR Sales Advocates have been instrumental in supporting customer philanthropic events. The sales advocates have provided volunteers, donations and product to hundreds of customer events across the U.S. and Canada.