Hershey's in the UK: The Complete Guide to Every Product You Can Buy

Hershey's is the most recognisable American chocolate brand in the world. Founded in 1894 by Milton S. Hershey in Pennsylvania, the company built its reputation on making affordable milk chocolate accessible to ordinary Americans — a radical concept at the time when chocolate was still a luxury product. Today Hershey's is a $10 billion company and the dominant force in the American chocolate market.

In the UK, Hershey's has a complex reputation. The chocolate tastes different from British chocolate — noticeably so — and opinions divide sharply. But whatever side you land on, Hershey's products are some of the most searched-for American food items in the UK. This guide covers the full range available, the history behind the brand, and why the famous chocolate flavour difference exists. For a broader comparison of American and British confectionery, see our American sweets vs British sweets guide.

Why Does Hershey's Taste Different from British Chocolate?

This is the question UK consumers ask most often about Hershey's — and the answer is genuinely interesting.

The difference comes primarily from the milk processing method. Hershey's uses a process that partially lipolises (breaks down) the milk fats before mixing them into the chocolate. This produces butyric acid — a compound also found in Parmesan cheese and, in smaller amounts, in vomit. In small concentrations, butyric acid produces a slightly tangy, almost savoury note that's characteristic of Hershey's milk chocolate.

American consumers grew up with this flavour and associate it with chocolate. British consumers, raised on Cadbury's creamier, higher-cocoa-butter formulation, often find it surprising on first taste. Neither is objectively better — they're genuinely different products shaped by different dairy traditions and different consumer expectations.

The result: Hershey's milk chocolate is polarising in the UK. Some people find it addictive; others don't return to it. But the Cookies 'n' Creme bar — white chocolate with Oreo pieces — doesn't have the same divisive dairy note and is almost universally popular with UK consumers.

A Brief History of Hershey's

Milton Hershey didn't invent chocolate. He invented affordable chocolate. Before Hershey's, milk chocolate was an expensive European product — Swiss and Belgian manufacturers dominated the market and sold at premium prices. Hershey's goal was to create a milk chocolate that every American could afford.

The Hershey Milk Chocolate Bar launched in 1900 and was priced at just five cents — accessible to working-class Americans in a way that imported European chocolate was not. The formula for success was industrialisation: Hershey built enormous manufacturing facilities in Pennsylvania, created a company town (Hershey, Pennsylvania — still a functioning community today), and optimised every aspect of production to drive down cost.

The company grew through the 20th century by acquiring other brands. The most significant acquisition was Reese's in 1963 — the peanut butter cup brand that now outsells every other candy in the United States and has become enormously popular in the UK. Hershey's also owns Jolly Rancher, Heath, York, and dozens of other American confectionery brands.

The relationship between Hershey's and Reese's is the most important thing to understand about the American chocolate market. Reese's is made with Hershey's chocolate — the slightly tangy Hershey's flavour is part of what makes Reese's Peanut Butter Cups distinctive, and most UK consumers who try them love the combination even if they find straight Hershey's milk chocolate surprising. See our complete Reese's guide for the full Reese's range.

The Complete Hershey's UK Range

Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar

The original product. A plain milk chocolate bar with the distinctive Hershey's flavour profile. Available in standard bar size and king size. The product that built the company — and the one that most divides UK opinion. Worth stocking because it's the most recognisable Hershey's product and satisfies the curiosity of customers who've heard about it.

Retailer tip: Lead with Cookies 'n' Creme for customers who haven't tried Hershey's before. It converts better and creates fewer returns or complaints.

Hershey's Cookies 'n' Creme

The most popular Hershey's product in the UK by a significant margin. White chocolate with Oreo cookie pieces — a combination that doesn't rely on the divisive milk chocolate flavour and appeals broadly to British palates. The contrast of creamy white chocolate with crunchy Oreo pieces is simple and effective.

Available in standard and king size bars. Stock this as your primary Hershey's chocolate line if you're cautious about how UK customers will respond to the milk chocolate.

Hershey's Kisses

Hershey's Kisses are small, teardrop-shaped milk chocolate pieces individually wrapped in foil — one of the most iconic American chocolate formats. Each Kiss has a small paper ribbon extending from the top of the foil, which has become part of the product's identity.

Kisses come in milk chocolate, Cookies 'n' Creme, and seasonal varieties (including special flavours for Valentine's Day and Christmas). They're one of the strongest gifting products in the Hershey's range — the bag format and distinctive shape make them feel premium even at an accessible price point. Kisses are a consistent seller year-round and peak strongly in the gifting seasons.

Hershey's Nuggets

Hershey's Nuggets are chunky, individually wrapped chocolate pieces — larger than a Kiss, more substantial than a standard bar piece. They come in milk chocolate, Special Dark, and Cookies 'n' Creme. The individual wrapping makes them ideal for gifting, sharing, and pick-and-mix style displays. The Special Dark version offers a darker chocolate option for consumers who prefer less sweet chocolate.

Hershey's Special Dark

Hershey's darker chocolate bar with a more intense, less sweet flavour profile than the standard milk chocolate. Special Dark has a following among consumers who find the standard milk chocolate too sweet, and it sidesteps some of the divisive butyric acid note that characterises the milk chocolate.

Hershey's Syrup

Hershey's chocolate syrup is an American kitchen staple — used in milkshakes, on ice cream, in chocolate milk, and in baking. The distinctive squeeze bottle is instantly recognisable and the product has a different use case from Hershey's bar chocolate, opening up a consumer audience beyond confectionery buyers. Strong seller as a novelty grocery item and an easy add-on purchase for customers buying the chocolate range.

Hershey's Miniatures

A mixed bag of miniature versions of Hershey's core bars — Milk Chocolate, Special Dark, Krackel (with crisped rice), and Mr. Goodbar (with peanuts). The variety bag format works well for gifting and sharing, giving recipients a sampler of the Hershey's range rather than a full bar of a single flavour. Particularly popular around Christmas and Halloween.

The Hershey's and Reese's Connection

No Hershey's guide would be complete without addressing Reese's. H.B. Reese created his peanut butter cups in 1928 while working at Hershey's dairy farm, and Hershey's acquired the Reese's brand in 1963. Today Reese's is the biggest-selling candy brand in America and the most popular American chocolate product in the UK.

The two brands are inseparable — Reese's is made with Hershey's chocolate, and the slightly tangy Hershey's flavour is integral to the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup experience. Many UK consumers who are sceptical about straight Hershey's milk chocolate become Reese's fans immediately. See our complete Reese's guide for the full range breakdown.

Hershey's for Retailers

Hershey's is a natural anchor brand for any American chocolate section. Lead with Cookies 'n' Creme and Kisses — these have the broadest UK appeal. Position the milk chocolate bar as a conversation piece for curious customers rather than a primary driver. Stock Reese's alongside Hershey's as they share the same brand family and cross-sell naturally.

For display and stocking advice, see our American candy section setup guide. For a full guide to buying American chocolate wholesale, see our American candy wholesale buyer's guide.

Where to Buy Hershey's in the UK

Sweet and Glory stocks the full Hershey's range at wholesale prices, including Milk Chocolate Bars, Cookies 'n' Creme, Kisses, Nuggets, Special Dark, Syrup, and Miniatures. Browse our full chocolate range for the complete American chocolate selection alongside Reese's and more.

Whether you're a retailer building an American chocolate section or a consumer who wants to try the full Hershey's range, there's no minimum order. Free parcel delivery on orders over £150 ex VAT. Open a trade account for wholesale pricing, or simply browse and order.