HERSHEY UNVEILING NEW LOOKS, PRODUCTS

HERSHEY, Pa. -- Hershey Foods Corp. here is changing the look of the packaging for its flagship Kisses chocolates, in the brand's first major redesign in 30 years.

or for the bag.

The manufacturer also plans to change the appearance of several of its popular solid chocolate bars when it rolls out Swoops, curvy solid chocolate slices, which will be delivered to retailers starting Dec. 8. Brands to be reshaped include Hershey's milk chocolate, Reese's peanut butter, Almond Joy and York Peppermint candies.

Swoops will come in a 3.78-ounce canister that consists of three on-the-go cups that retail for approximately $1.99. Each cup contains six slices of chocolate. Display units will include a 72-count canister shipper with all four product flavors, display-ready cases, a club variety pack and a 96-count trial-size shipper.

The manufacturer will offer coupons and samples to consumers to coincide with the end-of-the year launch, and national television advertising and a public relations campaign will also begin then.

Also, just in time for the holidays, Hershey's will introduce the S'Mores candy bar, which combines milk chocolate, graham crackers and marshmallow. It will begin shipping to retailers Nov. 24. Available in 1.65-ounce bars, S'Mores will retail for 65 cents a bar and display units will include a two-box counter unit, an eight-box standard bar shipper and a four-box power panel.

The launch will be supported with an introductory shipper program and in-store sampling starting in December. Advertising will break in February 2004.