| 1900 |
 |
Milton S. Hershey introduces the Milk Chocolate Bar. He
also begins the production of Sweethearts. These are vanilla sweet chocolate candy with a
heart imprinted on the base. They will be discontinued in 1931. |
|
| 1903 |
Milton Hershey builds a chocolate factory and a town
for his workers near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. |
| 1904 |
 |
The Cadbury Company develops a dairy milk chocolate. |
|
| 1906 |
The town of Derry Church, Pennsylvania changes its name
to Hershey to honor Milton S. Hershey. |
| 1907 |
 |
On July 1, 1907 the first Hershey Kisses are made. |
|
| 1908 |
 |
Theodore Tobler develops the unique triangular nougat
filled chocolate candy bar called Toblerone. |
|
| 1908 |
`The Hershey Chocolate Company makes the first milk
chocolate bar with almonds. |
| 1909 |
The Hershey Chocolate Company states making Silvertops.
This is a version of the Hershey's Kisses that are sold individually. They are
discontinued in 1931. |
| 1911 |
Frank and Ethel Mars build a candy company in Tacoma,
Washington. Later it become the Mars, Inc. |
| 1912 |
Jean Neuhaus, Jr. invents the first chocolate covered
praline. He fills the empty chocolate shell with pralines invented by his father. |
| 1912 |
The Whitman Company produces the boxed assortments
called Whitman's Samplers. This is the first company to have a drawing of where the
different chocolates are located in the box. |
| 1914 |
 |
L. S. Heath & Sons, Inc. makes the first Heath Bar
in Robinson, Illinois. |
|
| 1919 |
The Fry family merges with the Cadbury Brothers. |
| 1921 |
The Hershey Food Corporation begins to wrap the Kisses
by machine and add the flag to the wrapping. |
| 1921 |
 |
The Mounds candy bar is invented by Peter Paul
Halijian. He sells it under the name Peter Paul Mounds. |
|
| 1922 |
 |
H. B. Reese makes the first Reese's peanut butter cup
using Hershey's milk chocolate. |
|
| 1923 |
 |
Frank Mars creates the first Milky Way candy bar. This
candy has a nougat center. |
|
| 1923 |
Hershey Foods Corporation registers the name Hershey's
Kisses as a trademark. |
| 1925 |
 |
The Hershey Chocolate Company makes the first Mr.
Goodbar. |
|
| 1927 |
Baker's Chocolate Company is bought by General Foods
Corporation. They move the company to Delaware. |
| 1927 |
The Hershey Chocolate Company is renamed Hershey
Chocolate Corporation. |
| 1928 |
L. S. Heath & Sons, Inc. develops the toffee candy
bar called the Heath Bar. This candy bar can be bought on the home-delivered dairy order
form. |
| 1929 |
Frank Mars opens the Chicago candy plant. |
| 1929 |
Peter, Cailler, and Kohler merge with Nestlé ending 30
years of rivalry between the two companies. |
| 1930 |
 |
Frank Mars makes the first Snickers candy bar. |
|
| 1938 |
The Hershey Chocolate Corporation makes the Krackel
bar. |
| 1939 |
Blommer Chocolate Company begins manufacturing in
Chicago, Illinois. It will become the largest commercial chocolate manufacturer in the
United States. |
| 1939 |
Hershey makes the Hershey's Miniatures chocolate bars. |
| 1941 |
Forrest Mars returns to the United States from England.
He goes into business with Bruce Murrie, who is the one of the president of the Hershey
Chocolate Company. They call their new company M & M Ltd. Together they make the first
M & M's. |
| 1947 |
 |
Peter Paul makes the first Almond Joy. |
|
| 1950 |
Sam Altshuler starts the Annabelle Candy Company, Inc.
He names his company for his daughter and makes the first Rocky Road candy bar. |
| 1962 |
Hershey's Kisses are wrapped in colors other than
silver for the first time. |
| 1963 |
Hershey Chocolate Company buy H. B. Reese Candy
Company, Inc. for $23.5 million. |
| 1966 |
The Campbell Soup Company buys the Godiva Chocolatier,
Inc. of Belgium. |
| 1969 |
The Cadbury chocolate business merges with the
Schweppes soft drinks to form Cadbury Schweppes. |
| 1970 |
The Tobler company merges with the Suchard to become
the largest chocolate company. |
| 1970 |
Because the Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are so popular
the company has to double its size. |
| 1973 |
The Cadbury Company opens Chocolate World theme park in
Bournville, England. |
| 1973 |
The Hershey Foods Corporation opens its theme park,
Hershey's Chocolate World. |
| 1973 |
Hershey Foods begins putting nutritional information on
their labels. |
| 1976 |
Hershey Chocolate Company adds chopped peanuts to the
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups to make Reese's Crunchy. |
| 1977 |
Hershey Foods makes the first Golden Almond chocolate
bar. |
| 1980 |
An employee of the Schare-Tobler tries to sell secret
chocolate recipes to Saudi Arabia, China, and Russia. Luckily he was unsuccessful. |
| 1988 |
Nestlé buys the British chocolate and candy
manufactures Rowntree. This makes Nestlé the world's largest chocolate manufacturer. |
| 1988 |
Hershey Chocolate Company is renamed Hershey Chocolate
U.S.A. The company buys Peter Paul. |
| 1989 |
 |
Hershey Chocolate U.S.A. makes the Symphony milk
chocolate bar with almonds and toffee chips. |
|
| 1990 |
Hershey sends 144,000 of their heat-resistant candy
bars to soldiers in the Gulf War, Desert Storm. |
| 1991 |
The recipe for Reese's Peanut Butter Cup is changed to
add three times the amount of peanuts. |
| 1993 |
The first Hershey's Hugs and mini Hershey's Kisses
wrapped in white chocolate are sold. |
