Cookie exchange parties have become pretty popular over the last few years. Party guests are typically instructed to make their favorite batch of cookies (making sure there are enough for each of the other guests invited to have at least one), and then everyone meets up at the host’s place to exchange cookies and have a fun time.

This holiday season, Hershey’s Kisses is inviting 1,000 holiday bakers and entertainers to celebrate by hosting a Hershey’s Kisses Cookie Exchange Party!
But it gets even sweeter: now through November 15, party hosts can even apply to have their cookie exchange sponsored by Hershey’s …read more

Hershey’s Kisses are one treat that everyone seems to enjoy, but even though they are wrapped they haven’t always been easy to give for Halloween. The silver foil wrap is easily manipulated, making it easy to come loose in a bag full of candy thus causing parents a bit of concern.

Hershey’s has finally come out with individual packs of Kisses, perfect for giving out for trick-or-treating. They’re also dressing up their other treats for the holiday, like black and orange foil wrapped Kisses:

There are also individually wrapped Reese’s Peanut Butter cups shaped as pumpkins (my kids love these in their …read more

Citing a poor economy and a “non-sustainable business model,” Hershey’s is closing down its online gift and novelty store and catalog at the end of the month.

Currently, everything from their popular 5 lb Hershey bar to cute gift tins are discounted 25%, which will show up automatically when you go to checkout.
“The Hershey Company will continue to produce your favorite Hershey’s brands that are currently available at retail locations throughout the country. From now thru the end of July, you still can purchase Hershey’s Gifts for special people in your life and enjoy this special offer.”
You can shop the online …read more

I’ve always liked the idea of companies personalizing gifts — what would be better than a big block of chocolate, other than a big block of chocolate with your name on it?

Hershey’s has a giant 1-pound chocolate “card” available for Father’s Day. It can be decorated with a personal message beneath the molded “World’s Greatest Dad” inscription, and you can choose from three colors for the frosting – white, blue or orange.
It’s $19.95 with free personalization, and I would imagine you’d want to order it soon to make sure it shows up before Sunday!
(I also got totally distracted by …read more

Looking for something for Father’s Day for the chocolate-loving dad in your life?

Hershey’s is currently in a partnership with Jazwares to add a bunch of geeky items to their collection of non-edible wares, which currently include mugs, t-shirts, and even scented lotions.
The cute Hershey bar-shaped drive above will hold 1GB to 4GB and range in price from $14.99 to $29.99, but if your dad’s not a fan of plain chocolate, they’ve also got Mr. Goodbar, Krackel, Twizzlers or Bubble Yum.
They’ve also got $25 digital cameras in Jolly Rancher, Hershey’s Miniatures, and Bubble Yum, or you might even get …read more

The contest over the weekend for the two Hershey’s Collector Barbies giveaway was a big success and a lot of fun; I loved reading everyone’s responses about their favorite Barbies and Hershey treats!
I’ve picked the two winners for the dolls, so without further ado, congratulations to:
Cathleen Nash, who wrote
“Yummy! I must admit I love this Hershey Barbie She embodies the chocolate perfectly! I LOVE plain ol’ Hershey Milk Chocolate bars.. they’re classic and I hope they never change. My earliest photo is me with a happy, over-indulged look and holding a Hershey bar the size of my head! …read more

Hershey’s and Barbie are teaming up for a “sweet partnership!”
The collaboration between the two American favorites is the 2009 Hershey Collector Barbie Doll, a beautiful brunette Barbie dressed in a silver and chocolate brown cocktail dress with a Hershey ribbon around her waist.
The doll is available for a suggested retail price of about $43 at Toys ‘R’ Us, Hershey’s Chocolate World (Pennsylvania), and the Hershey’s stores in Times Square, New York and Chicago. You can also find her at BarbieCollector.com.
I already have the See’s Barbie, and now if you’ll excuse me I need to go dump out …read more

I picked up a bag of Hershey’s Mint Truffle Kisses at Target the other day while hunting for stocking stuffers to give them a try.
These are supposedly another “limited edition” Kiss but they were available last year too, so maybe they’re just rolling them out as a seasonal treat. My 17.8 oz bag cost me $4.29.

The standard-sized Kisses are wrapped in silver or green foil with little flags that say “MINT TRUFFLE.”
The wrappers, of course, are what caught my eye because I was on the lookout for Christmas goodies, and I think they’d look pretty in a candy …read more

It was bound to happen (again!): Hershey’s announced last Friday that, effective immediately, it’s raising U.S. prices on its wholesale products by about 13%. They cited the higher cost of ingredients like cocoa, milk, corn sweetener, sugar and peanuts.
The mega-chocolate maker said its 2008 profit will be at the low end of its forecast range and they have cut sales growth projections for 2009, sending its shares down more than 4%.
This further cements my decision that if I’m spending the money on chocolate it’s going to a quality brand, which Hershey just hasn’t been for a while.
Do you …read more

I don’t know that I’m ever going to be able to make it back east to Pennsylvania for Hersheypark, but I found the next best thing.
Someone brought their video camera with them on the Hershey World Chocolate Ride, a kind of tour that explains where and how chocolate is made, from pod to bar.