Great news ahead for Vegan chocoholics! Hershey’s has set sights on introducing plant-based confections to create appeal for full range of chocolate lovers. The Hershey Company announced that it is working to introduce new products for its “better-for-you” line, focusing heavily on plant-based alternatives. It is said that the “better-for-you” products will have reduced sugar, portion-controlled packages, and plant-based ingredients.
The expansion of Hershey’s production is in line with their long-term strategy to promote the innovation of “better-for-you” products, while leading to the development of new items. Existing products might undergo substitutions as well in due time.
With many people embarking on Vegan and plant-based diets, it’s about time for products and confections take a spin to incorporate a larger group of consumers. With plant-based products in their portfolio, Hershey’s hope this project will appeal to a wider range of chocolate lovers, while taking advantage of the growth of plant-based diets.
“We are the leader in US confection, and our consumers rely on us to understand their needs for the everyday moments, seasons, and special occasions, offering high quality and great tasting candy that’s accessible for everyone,” Hershey’s Chief Growth Officer Kristen Riggs said. “Expanding our expertise, building new capabilities, and delivering more choices in better-for-you confection is the next big category opportunity for us to lead.”
“We’re primarily focused on sweet indulgence, though that is growing and evolving over time,” Hershey’s Chief Executive Officer Michele G. Buck said. “One of the areas where we have the opportunity is in better-for-you, and within that, one space is within our own category. If we look at many other indulgent categories in the marketplace, many of them have a greater proportion of better-for-you items.”
Currently, none of the iconic candies or chocolates are vegan-friends as they contain dairy, aside from the Hersey’s Chocolate Syrup. We hope the new push for vegan-friendly products will be a huge success and consumers can look towards a healthier line, while maintaining the taste of their dark, creamy chocolates.