Hershey Unveils Resilient ‘Source, Make, Delight’ Strategy

Hershey's Whitney Mayer, Head of Global Sustainability, has written an article outlining the company's new enterprise sustainability strategy, designed to carry the company into its next chapter with purpose and confidence.

As the business continues to grow and adapt, its focus on long-term success goes hand in hand with how Hershey shows up for people and the planet. As the company has expanded its portfolio and global footprint, it is looking to refine how it operates, sharpening its approach to managing risk, strengthening supply reliability and building the resilience needed to support long-term growth.

That progress has shaped the business and sets the foundation for where it is headed next.

There is a belief that, around the world, people are asking more of businesses. Communities are navigating the impacts of climate change and ecosystem pressures, while expectations from consumers, customers and stakeholders continue to rise.

Sustainability efforts and business performance are not always parallel pursuits; at times, they create real tension. But by working through that complexity with intention, we believe stronger, more resilient companies emerge.

Strengthening global supply and social impact

Hershey’s updated sustainability strategy reflects that reality. It builds on the progress and lessons of the past while taking a more integrated enterprise-wide approach to addressing the environmental and social challenges that intersect with the business.

Looking ahead to the next decade, the strategy helps shape how it will source ingredients and make its products, enabling the team to continue delighting consumers while growing responsibly in a changing world. Together, Source, Make and Delight define this updated strategy, guiding current operations and future growth.

The products depend on a diverse set of ingredients sourced from multiple geographies, from cocoa in West Africa to dairy and peanuts in the United Kingdom and United States, each shaped by distinct environmental and social conditions.

Many ingredients are grown in regions facing interconnected challenges, including climate variability, water stress, deforestation and biodiversity loss. Cocoa is highly sensitive to changing rainfall patterns, where diseases and environmental factors affecting plant health can reduce yields and quality, ultimately impacting crops and the livelihoods of farm families.

Hershey’s strategy recognises that supply chain resilience starts with farms and farmers but also depends on the health of the broader ecosystems in which they operate. The company is investing in programmes that strengthen both. Through the Hershey Income Accelerator Program (HIAP), a US$40m initiative in Côte d'Ivoire, it aims to support 20,000 farming households with training, financial incentives and tools to improve productivity and incomes.

Alongside this, the firm is investing in the long-term health of agricultural systems, including a goal to cover one million hectares with regenerative, restorative or protective practices by 2035.

Operational excellence and consumer evolution

The ability to make and deliver snacks to millions of consumers depends on how well Hershey optimises operations, logistics and supply chain networks to reduce waste and minimise the environmental footprint.

Efficient operations are a commitment to consumers, communities and the planet. By developing a culture focused on eliminating waste across its global manufacturing network, Hershey is ensuring that sustainability is at the centre of how it makes its iconic treats.

Efforts to improve operational efficiency include a 50% absolute reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030, sourcing 100% of electricity from renewable and zero-emissions sources by 2030 and eliminating 25 million pounds of packaging.

At the same time, the company is improving performance on the ground through targeted investments in water recycling systems and by optimising its logistics network to reduce fuel use and miles travelled.

For more than 130 years, Hershey has been making products people love. Today, consumers are thinking more holistically about what they eat and are considering health, sustainability and transparency alongside taste and value.

This evolution means rethinking how sustainability shows up across the portfolio. By integrating sustainability considerations more intentionally into how it designs and develops its offerings, Hershey is working to deliver the choice and experiences consumers want today and in the future.