Hershey and chocolate are as inextricably linked as any brand can be to its underlying product, Established in 1886, the Hershey Company is an enduring American success story not only of innovation, growth, and success but of a man who practiced philanthropy and enlightened employee practices long before they became commonplace..
Anyone who has the dream of starting a company should read the story of Milton Hershey and the company he created. He experienced a decade of failure before finally creating the right product for the right market. He pioneered a cost-effective introduction of milk chocolate instead of the dark, less sweet chocolate that most people knew, eventually producing 75% of the chocolate consumed in the US.
His technical innovations to preserve candy on the shelf lead drove retail sales and during World War II led to the innovative “D-Ration” for the military that would remain fresh in any environment a soldier might find himself in.
Hershey’s story in not just a tale of successful entrepreneurship. As his company grew both through organically and through acquisitions, he built a community for his employees that included decent housing, schools, hospitals, and recreational facilities. He did much of this before employees enjoyed the legal or union protections that prevail today. Equally important, he did not wait until late in life or death to begin his philanthropic activities. He gave it away as he made it.
I cannot do justice to his commercial and philanthropic legacy in this space. Those whose vision is to build and lead an enterprise that will do good, and do well, will be well rewarded by taking time for this long read about a life well lived from the American Business History Center:. Milton Hershey: Chocolate King, Confectioner, and Creator .
