Future of Hershey
CATEGORIES
- Asset Performance
- Innovation assets and pipeline
- Disruption vulnerability
- Company headlines
- Company’s future prospects
DATA ACCESS
The Hershey Company, usually known as Hershey's, and known as the Hershey Foods Corporation until April 2005, is one of the biggest chocolate producers in North America. It’s headquartered in Hershey, Pennsylvania, which is also home to Hershey's Chocolate World. It was established in 1894 by Milton S. Hershey as the Hershey Chocolate Company, a subsidiary of his Lancaster Caramel Company. In addition, Hershey is a member of the World Cocoa Foundation. It is also associated with the Giant Center and the Hersheypark Stadium.
Innovation assets and Pipeline
All company data collected from its 2015 annual report and other public sources. The accuracy of this data and the conclusions derived from them depend on this publicly accessible data. If a data point listed above is discovered to be inaccurate, Quantumrun will make the necessary corrections to this live page.
DISRUPTION VULNERABILITY
Belonging to the food, beverages and tobacco sector means this company will be affected directly and indirectly by a number of disruptive opportunities and challenges over the coming decades. While described in detail within Quantumrun’s special reports, these disruptive trends can be summarized along the following broad points:
*First off, by 2050, the world’s population will balloon far past nine billion people; feeding that many people will keep the food and beverage industry growing into the foreseeable future. However, providing the food necessary to feed that many people is beyond the world’s current capacity, especially if all nine billion demand a Western-style diet.
*Meanwhile, climate change will continue to push global temperatures upward, eventually far beyond the optimal growing temperatures/climate of the world’s staple plants, like wheat and rice—a scenario that can endanger the food security of billions.
*As a result of the two factors above, this sector will collaborate with the top names in agribusiness to create novel GMO plants and animals that grow faster, are climate resistant, are more nutritious, and can ultimately produce far greater yields.
*By the late 2020s, venture capital will begin investing heavily in vertical and underground farms (and aquaculture fisheries) that are located close to urban centers. These projects will be the future of ‘buying local' and have the potential to significantly increase the food supply to support the world's future population.
*The early 2030s will see the in-vitro meat industry mature, particularly when they can grow lab-grown meat at a price less than naturally raised meat. The resulting product will eventually be cheaper to produce, far less energy intensive and damaging to the environment, and will produce significantly safer and more nutritious meats/protein.
*The early 2030s will also see food substitutes/alternatives become a booming industry. This will include a larger and cheaper range plant-based meat substitutes, algae-based food, soylent-type, drinkable meal replacements, and high protein, insect-based foods.