Hershey's in the UK: The Complete Guide to Every Product
Hershey's in the UK: The Complete Guide to Every Product
Hershey's is one of the most recognisable American chocolate brands 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 one of the largest confectionery companies in North America and a 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. This guide explains why, and covers the full range available. 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 is widely reported to use a process that partially lipolyses (breaks down) the milk fats before mixing them into the chocolate. Hershey's has never published its exact method, but the process is thought to produce butyric acid — a compound also found in Parmesan cheese. 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. For the full science behind it, see our guide to why American chocolate tastes different.
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. But the Cookies 'n' Creme bar — white creme with crunchy chocolate cookie pieces — doesn't have the same divisive dairy note and is far more widely liked by 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. Hershey's goal was to create a milk chocolate that every American could afford. The Hershey Milk Chocolate Bar launched in 1900 at just five cents — accessible to working-class Americans in a way that imported European chocolate was not. The company grew through the 20th century by acquiring other brands. The most significant was Reese's in 1963 — the peanut butter cup brand that now outsells every other candy in the United States. In the US, Hershey's also owns Jolly Rancher, Heath, and York. For the full Reese's story, see our complete Reese's guide. For the story of how Reese's Pieces ended up in E.T., see our E.T. and Reese's Pieces blog.
The Complete Hershey's UK Range
Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar — The original product, available as the Giant Bar. 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. Lead with Cookies 'n' Creme for customers who haven't tried Hershey's before — it converts better.
Hershey's Cookies 'n' Creme — One of the most popular Hershey's products with UK customers. A white creme bar with crunchy chocolate cookie pieces — a combination that doesn't rely on the divisive milk chocolate flavour and appeals broadly to British palates. Available in the US bar, the Giant Bar and the Kisses format, plus flavour editions such as Chocolate and Sea Salt, Caramel and Sea Salt and Fudge Brownie. Stock this as your primary Hershey's chocolate line.
Hershey's Kisses — 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. Kisses come in milk chocolate, Cookies 'n' Creme, and seasonal varieties. One of the strongest gifting products in the Hershey's range — the bag format and distinctive shape make them feel premium at an accessible price point. A consistent seller year-round that peaks strongly in gifting seasons.
Hershey's Nuggets — Chunky, individually wrapped chocolate pieces, larger than a Kiss and more substantial than a standard bar piece. Available in milk chocolate, Special Dark, and Cookies 'n' Creme. The individual wrapping makes them ideal for gifting, sharing, and pick and mix displays.
Hershey's Special Dark — Available as the Giant Bar and in Kisses. Darker chocolate with a more intense, less sweet flavour profile than the standard milk chocolate. Sidesteps some of the divisive butyric acid note and has a following among consumers who prefer less sweet chocolate.
Hershey's Syrup — An American kitchen staple used in milkshakes, on ice cream, and in baking. The distinctive squeeze bottle is instantly recognisable, and the range runs from chocolate Sundae Dream to caramel and strawberry. Opens up a consumer audience beyond confectionery buyers and works as a strong novelty grocery item.
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. 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 worked at the Hershey dairy farm before starting his own candy company in Hershey, Pennsylvania, where he created the peanut butter cup in 1928 — coated in Hershey's milk chocolate. Hershey's acquired the Reese's company in 1963. Today Reese's is one of the biggest-selling candy brands in America and one of the best-known American chocolate brands in the UK. The two brands are inseparable — Reese's is still made with Hershey's chocolate, and the slightly tangy Hershey's flavour is part of what makes Reese's Peanut Butter Cups distinctive. Most UK consumers who try Reese's love the combination even if they find straight Hershey's milk chocolate surprising.
Browse the Full Hershey's Range
Sweet and Glory stocks the Hershey's range wholesale, including the UK-format Hershey's Chocolate Bar, Cookies 'n' Creme and Cookies 'n' Chocolate bars alongside the US lines. Browse the Hershey's brand page for current availability, or see the full chocolate range.
No minimum order. Free delivery on orders over £150 ex VAT up to 25kg, with higher free delivery thresholds for heavier orders, and free pallet delivery over £650 ex VAT. See our delivery page for full rates. Dispatched from Manchester. Create a free account to browse and order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy Hershey's chocolate in the UK? Yes. Hershey's sells a UK-format range, including the 40g Hershey's Chocolate Bar and Cookies 'n' Creme bars, and the American lines are imported. Sweet and Glory stocks over 40 lines from the Hershey family: UK and US bars, Kisses, Miniatures, Nuggets and syrups, plus Payday, Mr Goodbar and Almond Joy. We supply shops wholesale and sell to individual customers too, with no minimum order. See the Hershey's range.
Why does Hershey's chocolate taste different? Mostly the way the milk is processed, which gives Hershey's a slightly tangy note that British palates notice. Our full guide to why American chocolate tastes different explains the science in depth.
What is the most popular Hershey's product in the UK? Hershey's Cookies 'n' Creme — white creme with crunchy chocolate cookie pieces — is one of the most popular with UK customers. Because it doesn't carry the tangy milk-chocolate note that divides opinion, it appeals broadly to British palates and is the best first Hershey's product to offer a new customer.
Are Hershey's Kisses and Nuggets the same thing? No — both are individually wrapped, but Kisses are the small teardrop-shaped milk chocolate pieces with the paper ribbon, while Nuggets are larger, chunkier pieces available in milk, Special Dark and Cookies 'n' Creme. Kisses lead as a gifting product; Nuggets work well for sharing and pick and mix.
Where can I buy Hershey's wholesale in the UK? Sweet and Glory stocks over 40 Hershey's lines wholesale — bars, Kisses, Nuggets, Miniatures and syrup — with no minimum order. Create a free account to browse and order.
Related guides: Reese's complete UK guide · Why American chocolate tastes different · E.T. and Reese's Pieces story · American sweets vs British sweets · Most popular American sweets UK
Sources
The Hershey Company, Our history: thehersheycompany.com/en_us/home/about-us/the-company/history.html
Hershey Community Archives, H.B. Reese Candy Company: hersheyarchives.org
Smithsonian Magazine, why American chocolate tastes different (butyric acid): smithsonianmag.com
Hershey's, Cookies 'n' Creme product information: hersheyland.com
Written by Sharon Wilson, Sweet and Glory. Sweet and Glory has imported American and world confectionery into the UK from Trafford Park, Manchester, since 2015.
