Pennsylvania-based Hershey has released a candy pairing guide designed to match its holiday offerings with the most popular traditions found in its recent survey. The guide features seasonal favorites like Hershey’s Kisses and Reese’s Trees, as well as new products like Hershey’s Holiday Bars.
“Hershey knows that magical feeling of being surrounded by loved ones and cherishing every moment this special season brings,” said Katie Behrman, associate brand manager of seasons.
“We want to help transform those sweet moments into lifelong memories by adding an extra element of delight with our seasonal products like Hershey’s Kisses in holiday foils, new Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Hot Chocolate Bombs and Rolo Creamy Caramels Wrapped in Rich Chocolate.”
Favorite traditions by state in order of popularity:
- Decorating the Christmas tree – Utah, New York, Vermont, Tennessee, Washington, North Dakota, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Montana, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Arizona, Massachusetts, Delaware and Illinois.
- Exchanging gifts – Idaho, Connecticut, Michigan, Georgia, South Dakota, Iowa, Maryland, New Jersey, South Carolina, Wyoming, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin, Oregon, Hawaii, Minnesota, Colorado, Virginia, Alaska and Nevada.
- Watching a favorite holiday movie – New Mexico, Florida, Indiana, Mississippi, New Hampshire, California, North Carolina, Texas and Nebraska.
- Going to look at holiday lights/decorations – Kentucky, Alabama, West Virginia, Arkansas and Maine.
Hershey is bringing back candies such as the classic Hershey’s Kisses in festive foils, including the Candy Cane flavor, and the Reese’s Peanut Butter Trees in its seasonal shape. New items for the season also include the first Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Hot Chocolate Bombs and Herhsey’s Milk Chocolate Holiday Bars with 24 varieties of seasonal imprinted images such as stars, wreaths, trees and stockings.
This random double-opt-in survey of 5,000 general population Americans was commissioned by Hershey between Nov. 17-28. It was conducted by market research company OnePoll, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society and have corporate membership to the American Association for Public Opinion Research and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research.
