Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
Original Hershey Chocolate Factory closing in Hershey, Pennsylvania
Milton Hershey's chocolate factory, with its iconic double smokestack, is closing soon in downtown Hershey, Pennsylvania.According to a National Public Radio report, Hershey's chocolate bars will still be made nearby, in a newer facility outside of town that better accommodates modern manufacturing equipment. The company says global competition is the reason the factory will be shuttered, with 500 jobs lost in the process.
When Hershey built his factory, he followed the lead of British chocolate-maker Cadbury in building housing, community centers and even an amusement park for the chocolate company's employees.
But in the century since the company was founded, Hershey, Pennsylvania, has become more than a factory town. Its Hersheypark theme park now caters to tourists, and hotels and resorts have sprung up around it.
For decades, visitors to "America's chocolate center" toured the original factory at the corner of Chocolate and Cocoa avenues along with their visit to Hersheypark.
Today, the factory tours have been replaced by a 10-minute ride at Hershey's Chocolate World that shows the chocolate-making process in a more visitor-friendly environment. But a monorail ride at Hersheypark still passes the original factory, with a voice-over describing it as "the world's largest chocolate factory."
The factory broke ground back in 1903 when the town of Hershey was still called Derry Church. Five years into its operation, the plant gave birth to a candy that Hershey named the Kiss - starting a long tradition of churning out massively popular chocolate products. Hershey now produces over 80 million Kisses every single day.
Before Milton Hershey became the largest maker of chocolate in the world, he made his money with caramel - and was one of the first to use fresh milk in his recipe. The sale of his caramel firm is what financed his chocolate empire. And even though his empire is mostly known for its Kisses and Bars - the various plants around the world churn out almost 200 different candy products, including gum, mints, hard candy and licorice.
One famous product that was made in the town came from the H.B. Reese company - founded by a former dairy worker for Hershey. It wasn't till 1963 that the Hershey company purchased Reese's and making the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup a member of the Hershey family.
[Image credit: Flickr user slgckgc]
| Yes - I loved seeing the real thing | |
|---|---|
| No - I visit Hersheypark for the rides | |
| I never got to visit it... |
Check out these other Hershey sweet destination articles
Filed under: North America, United States
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 13)
Laura Oct 7th 2010 10:11AM
Wow. We live about 2 hours from HersheyPark and the Chocolate Factory and we try to go with our 5 kids every summer. We have never been in the original factory, but we have taken the one in the Park itself several times and we have seen how it has changed over the span of a few years. It is almost magical in there, and I love going to it and yes, even buying chocolate on the way out. There are stands everywhere with everything from chocolate to t-shirts to glassware to...everything else! It is really a tourist's paradise and I hope that it continues on for generations so that our children can take their children to see where Mama and Papa (as children and as parents) grew up. Ah, I can actually still smell the Chocolate Tour...that intoxicating smell of chocolate and excitement...I am sure sad that Winter is almost upon us now and we will have to wait until Spring and Summer to be able to go back. I will be counting the months. Anyone else with me?
~LG
ZaZapper Oct 7th 2010 2:58PM
They haven't given tours of the old factory for years, except for specially arranged group tours. They have Chocolate World that is open all year just outside the park entrance (yes, it smells like chocolate on that tour too!). As for losing jobs, they bought out employees that chose to retire early, and moved a bunch of equipment to Mexico. I live about 30 minutes down the road and a ton of people from my hometown work there, that is where I got my information. They have the old factory, 19E, Hershey west, and Reese's and have begun to replace the early retirees with workers from the old factory, and even a few new workers. The only lost jobs are from them moving parts of their operations out of the country. But in their defense, they do sell chocolate in other countries too!
Harry Wyant Oct 7th 2010 5:12PM
Did the real tour when we were kids 1950's and did nice tour in Califronia plant sevral years ago. That plant was closed this year as they are moving a good part of production to Mexico. Buy Cadbury.
Sunday Oct 7th 2010 5:15PM
When I was little we took a tour of the original chocolate factory - the lucious smell alone was intoxicating! Not too long after that, Hershey stopped the tours through the original factory due to health hazards. They then built the fake chocolate factory in the park which was really, really cool to go through. Ahhhh, memories!
Joe Oct 7th 2010 7:32PM
As a young kid, our family always went to Hershey for that special vacation. We camped, ate at the Plain & Fancy Restaurant, Oh what fond memories. The landscape of Great America of Years gone by, as been changed, and not for the better unfortunately.
Al Schrader Oct 7th 2010 8:35PM
I invented a new peanutbutter cup that has a hole in the center. Besides the filling it has chopped peanuts on top too. Then again, I'm the real Willy Wonka of food.....Alfred-
Dona Gossard Oct 11th 2010 7:43AM
We also took our three kids there, oldest 35 -32 and 26. Now we take the grand babys, as our excuse to go. Christmas time is also a beautiful time. Not many rides, but well worth the trip.
Dona from N.J.
Hattie Crabtree Oct 7th 2010 9:59AM
I went for the first time last spring.The park rides were not open but really enjoyed the zoo there too.
Diane Oct 7th 2010 10:05AM
I took my kids to Hershey years ago and took the tour through the original factory. We all loved it! My kids are in the mid-forties now and still remember the smell of the chocolate all through town and the street lights shaped like Hershey kissses. By the way, that's what we saw them making in the factory that day -- Hershey kisses! I was sad when they quit taking poeple through that factory and now feel really bad that the factory is closing.
Sue Oct 7th 2010 10:20AM
I remember as a kid taking the tour also! We walked through the factory and you even got to take a sample of the kisses! I too can remember the smell..LOL
Nancy nurse Oct 7th 2010 10:06AM
the bars are made in mexico.....god bless America...more american stuff outsourced....
DZ in MD Oct 7th 2010 10:17AM
I know they outsourced the York Peppermint Patties, but did they send more? I have refused to eat another York Peppermint Patty ever. This is so pathetic, these large companies send the products to be made in Mexico and other parts of the world, take our jobs and still expect us to consume their products.
DIANE Oct 7th 2010 10:36AM
My husband a PA native told me that the bars were being made in Mexico & suggested we not buy anymore, but the above article stated "Hershey's chocolate bars will still be made nearby, in a newer facility outside of town that better accommodates modern manufacturing equipment. The company says global competition is the reason the factory will be shuttered, with 500 jobs lost in the process." So maybe they will be mfg'd in both places.
NEW YORK Oct 7th 2010 4:52PM
PLEASE. NO MORE OUTSOURCING. WE NEED JOBS DESPERATELY. WHY IS THIS ALLOWED TO HAPPEN. AND TO MEXICO???? WHAT'S WRONG WITH OUR GOVERNMENT??? kEEP THE JOBS HERE IN THE USA.
T. Whittemore Oct 8th 2010 11:44PM
Yes,I heard 4 or 5 yrs ago that Hersheys was moving to Mexico,very sad. I don't understand why they can't compete by staying where they are if their delicious products are now sold all over the world. I personally would be afraid to eat it any-more as I'm sure the FDA isn't over-seeing how things are done in some other country. I've tasted the Mexican version of Bazooka bubble gum and I can say for sure that it's completely different than it used to be, it's awful, never buy it now. Sure hope the same thing doesn't happen to the best chocolate ever made. And of course, more Americans will lose their jobs, it's just wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rich Oct 7th 2010 5:31PM
The reason jobs are out sourced (and I am 100% opposed to it) is because union menial labor is too expesive in the country.
joseph verbinski Oct 7th 2010 7:41PM
Thats cause sugar is cheaper in mexico in the United States the government puts a limit on what price sugar and corn surup is alloud to be purchased. I used to work for Just Born- maker of the peeps and mike and Ike and they said they would never out source even if it makes finacial sense. Its still privatly owned by Dave and Ross, And even though were consided the little guy we never sold out :)
Portia Oct 7th 2010 10:13AM
Too bad about the 500 jobs....maybe they can get a job making really good chocolate ! Hershey's is so full of wax and other crap, I quit eating it years ago...............
Lu Oct 7th 2010 6:03PM
I'm with you, Portia. Hershey's chocolate isn't ANYTHING like what it was when we were kids. You're absolutely right-- its just brown wax now, no flavor....
erin Oct 7th 2010 10:20AM
so sad that more people will lose their job cuz of the new factory ..