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On a warm May weekend in this Central Valley town, the irony was thick.
As usual, the annual Chocolate Festival was drawing hordes of fun-seekers. But Hershey Co., Oakdale’s biggest employer and the nation’s biggest candy company, is closing its plant here, eliminating all 575 jobs. The company will open a factory in Monterrey, Mexico, to handle the production.
One man at the festival wore a T-shirt that said on the front: “Where did ‘the great American candy bar’ go?” Asked for the answer, he whirled around to display the back: “Mexico!”
I’m a little late to this news story about Hershey moving one of their plants from Oakdale, California to Mexico, but this weekend was the first time I’d heard about it.
As stated in the article, the move will put almost 600 people out of work. I know, of course, that money is important to any business, that goes without saying, but with the experience I’ve had with companies outsourcing out of country, I can’t say it’s leaving a positive impression. I haven’t had a reason to really research what’s going on with the company — up until a month ago my chocolate concerns stopped at how much I had left on the snack shelf in the cupboard! — but now I’m interested and wondering if Hershey has a real need to be trying to save money or if it’s just a general big-company-moving-to-save-big-bucks situation.
The message board where I found the article was full of people declaring they were going to swear off Hershey’s and while I can’t say for sure that I’m going to be swearing off anything, I have a confession to make: I’m not a big Hershey fan in the first place. Not necessarily of the company, I mean with the chocolate itself. Something changed a few years ago and the chocolate doesn’t taste real to me anymore and the mouth feel is getting waxy. Is it just me or has anyone else noticed that too?
The 113-year-old company has described the plant shutdown as part of a “global supply-chain transformation.” Overall, about 3,000 of Hershey’s 13,000 workers will lose their jobs, including as many as 900 in the company’s hometown of Hershey, Pa. By 2010, Hershey says, the moves will save shareholders as much as $190 million annually.
What do you think of Hershey’s move? Will it affect what you buy in the future?
I read where things are made now, If it isn’t made in the United States it do my best to not buy it. Hersheys is just made my list!
Any company or corporation that takes over an established company should not be permitted to change the qulity of the product. If they do they should have to forfit using that name any longer. People who worked hard and long to establish their product deserve to have there good name protected. Hershey is now falling by the wayside like so many others have. The great people that started these companies that started them must be turning over in their graves, How sad.
JI
Hi,
I think you with your comments are being kind of mean and cruel, if Hershey’s company decided to move their production over to México it doesn’t mean that is not longer an American product, the company will keep their production standards, input providers and so on. On the other hand, redundant employees should start a business, the problem with America is that you have stopped creating American companies, your lack of entrepreneurs is giving China the opportunity to take over the whole cake, but that’s another subject. One more thing, I see how you write so disrespectfully about my country, but not all mexicans are the kind of the ones you see working on car-washes and construction places or gangs, we also have prepared, hygienic
and healthy people, I’m sorry you only have the chance to see that kind of my mexicans brothers (the poorest ones) ; ) Transform that hate into ideas and work hard to make them reality =) I love America because of what they founders did, but new generations are just hating to much. Best regards
“Hershey’s………..the great American chocolate bar” is a joke & the once proud chocolate co. is losing its lustre among us; its once solid customer base of devotees. Read the book of Hershey’s start & of its failure to warm up to European chocolatiers; a fascinating read. Many moons ago, I remember opening a few bars of this once plain legendary bar of milk Chocolate in the ‘Nam & finding tiny “no-see-um” bugs in the folds of the white wrapper. 25 years later, I also tasted the “waxey” flavour. And, to think I was going to suggest the “Cadbury” line……………………………………………….
I found an article on http://www.howtobuyamerican.com (easter candy). It’s says hershey is can use distriubute by hershey,pa instead of mfg by mexico.
Anyway the did mentions Russell Stovers, Whitman’s (Sampler box = candy bar), Pangburns, Palmer and Kraft
Wilburs makes great chocolate… Wilbur buds are the best….. Hershey’s miniatures and york peppermint patties (which Hershey’s makes) are now made in Mexico… and they are trucking alot of candy from Mexico into the U.S. …. check the labels… if they are made in Mexico it will say it….
HJ HEINZ did they same thing I buy HUNTs ketchup now it’s made in Omaha, NE
http://www.howtobuyamerican.com (Website of ONLY USA products)
Can someone list a chocolate bar made in AMERICA we can buy instead of listing Hershey brands
Can someone that works at the Hershey plant in Pennsylvania list products they produce. I don’t want to put them out of business and that would send a strong message to the hershey board. But before buying make sure someone is telling the truth, let’s not SUPPORT out of country companies.
I purchased a bag of Hersey’s minatures today at Sam’s club. after opening the large bag, I discovered the candy was made in Mexico. I will no longer buy product made in Mexico and will notify Sam’s club of the same. will also notify my friends and family.
The chocolate was “waxy” tasting. very disappointed in Hersey’s moving to mexico.
Put a stop to plants outsourceing, more jobs more taxes paid for schools and states,no jobs no taxes for schools and states no future.
I will never again buy Hershey products!!
I am actually sitting in the Hershey Lodge at a conference right now, watching the history of Milton Hershey. I can’t help but think that he is rolling over in his grave with what his company has become. This is a man that had the steam shovels removed from his construction site because they did the work of 40 men. He chose to hire the 4o men instead as we were in the middle of the great depression. What happened to that type of pride in American corporations?
hersey doesn’t taste the same anymore… And really I’m tired of supporting the rest of the world. I’ll pay more and eat American made chocolate, even if I have to make it my self.
Since the ”Hershey” chocolate candy is moved to mexico we will not buy any more hershey made anything. or Kraft products either. America is waking up to your UN-AMERICAN ways. To think you would put 1,000′s out of work in america and still expect us to buy your products,at the same inflated price……nothing doing !!!!!!!!!
I just learned the Hershey company had moved the plant that makes Hershey bars to Mexico. Well, that does it for me, I will not by Hershey bars any longer. Maybe we’ll eventually make our point. Buy American!
We have not purchased ANY Hersey products since hearing of the move and we will never buy their product again-so help us God.
I’ve been to Mexico a lot in the past, and I’ve worked with lots of illegal Mexicans here doing construction work. Knowing what I know about the sanitation situation there and the rampant tuberculosis, pertussis and other diseases, combined with the people’s absolute disregard for hand washing after using the toilet, I will never knowingly eat any product made or harvested in Mexico. My next action will be notifying Hershey.
I just was made aware that Hershey chocolate bars are now made in Mexico. I have loved the plain and almond bars since I was a child (now 81) and am so disappointed and will made a great sacrifice for me and not buy any more Hershey products.
I contacted the Hershey consumer info. They were very deceptive and not at all helpful. My question was a simple one. Which products are still manufactured in the USA. They would not tell me. The candy wrappers are also deceptive. they do not indicate where the candy is manufactured just that it is distributed by the Hershey co in PA. Im boycotting all hersey products until they are honest with the consumer!!!!!
I bought a bag of Hershey Miniatures today and noticed the mfg in Mexico and have sent a e mail to the company telling them I will no longer purchase any of their products