Well, there’s really nothing much in it for the consumer, aside from the fact that the candy bars you continue to buy will still be benefiting the Milton Hershey School in Hershey, Pennsylvania, but that should give you some warm fuzzies (especially if you check out some of the videos and stories from alumni on the site).

However, in recognition of the school’s 100 anniversary, starting this January you’ll get it in writing with a special “thank you” on the backs of the king and regular sized milk chocolate and almond bars. The thank you says: “Every Hershey’s product you’ve enjoyed has helped support children in need through Milton Hershey School. Thank You for making a difference!”

[image used with permission from hershey.com]

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In the suit, Mars, who is asking for a jury trial, claims the Hershey ads for Bliss, which began airing in October, copy the Dove ads by using “an image of a silky scarf-like image, a pillow shape emerging from a pool of chocolate, a series of laudatory words displayed in a distinctive white and gold cursive script …[and] an image of the head and shoulders of a smiling woman with long brown hair.” The Dove ads have been airing since March 2008.

The suit also claims that at least two former Mars employees who worked on the Dove advertising campaign were hired by Hershey and helped create the Bliss chocolate commercials. Ouch!

I can’t seem to find the Hershey ad online, but I have noticed the similarities when it’s been on TV, and figured it was a rip-off on Hershey’s part. Personally, I prefer Dove anyway since the Hershey’s tastes like, well, Hershey’s.

[images: amazon]

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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 Kisses by visiting kissescookies.com. While there, you can also check out holiday cookie recipes, including Peanut Butter Blossoms and the Chocolate Almond Thumbprint cookie, and party planning tips, such as:

~ Invite guests at least two weeks in advance and ask all guests to RSVP with the cookie recipe they plan to bring to the party (this helps to avoid duplicates).

~ Give suggestions or include a unique recipe on every invitation in case guests don’t have a favorite recipe they would like to share. Ask invitees to bring printed recipe copies, a plastic container for taking home treats and a half-dozen or one-dozen cookies for each attendee, depending on the number of guests.

~ Return the favor by turning the cookie exchange into a gifting party – provide gift tags, gift bags and ribbons, and invite guests to assemble cookie gifts for co-workers, neighbors, teachers and friends.

Have you ever hosted a cookie exchange party? What are some tips and pointers you would suggest?

[image used with permission from hershey's]

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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 lunch boxes), as well as Reese’s mini cups in dark and milk chocolate wrapped in orange and black foils:

Hershey’s regular assortment bags of snack sized bars are also available in fun Halloween wrappers and are in large 50-pack bags, perfect for handing out on October 31st!

[images: hershey's]

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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 store by occasion, price, and personalized gift options.

The online store and catalog will officially close on July 31st, and all gift orders must be placed before then.

I don’t buy much Hershey’s in the first place, but when I do I pick it up from the store anyway. Have you ever purchased from their online store? Will this affect you?

[image: flickr]

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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 the tin of dark chocolate-covered pretzels linked to on the same page.)

[image: hershey's]

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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 one shaped like a Hershey Kiss!

[image: hershey's]

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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! My sister got me hooked on them RECENTLY, so I’d like to give her this delectable Barbie if I were to win. Thanks for the entry!”

and Jan, who wrote:

“I have collected many Barbies and I love every one of them. But my favorite is a recent purchase of “Top Model.” She has waist-length red hair and the most beautiful blue eyes. A real knock-out!!!”

An email has been sent to both winners, who have 24 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. Emails have been sent out as of 8:00am PDT, March 24.

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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 my change jar…

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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 dish or jar.

The Kisses that I find at stores in my area always seem to look a little beat up when they’re unwrapped. I’m not sure why that is but of course it doesn’t affect the flavor, it’s just one of those things!

The creamy mint green “truffle” center is covered in dark chocolate which is always a tasty combination. These have a very subtle mint flavor at first and I can’t help but compare them to Andes mints (which isn’t a bad thing!). The aftertaste does linger for a while though and actually gets a touch mouthwash-y after about five minutes. Weird, but there you go.

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