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Purpose, Strategy & Culture

How We're Celebrating Women and Girls with Hershey's SHE Bars

For the second consecutive year, Hershey partners with the nonprofit Girls on the Run to celebrate women and girls.
Katie DeCapria
Brand Manager, Hershey's

Key Takeaways:

    • In honor of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, Hershey’s SHE bars will be available nationwide.
    • The wrappers of these limited-edition bars are lined with adjectives honoring impactful women and were selected in collaboration with Girls on the Run volunteers.
    • The simple gesture of giving someone a SHE bar can spark a meaningful, heartwarming connection.

Authentic. Relentless. Brilliant. Kind. Resilient. Passionate. Joyful. Giving. These are just a few of the adjectives you’ll find on the new, limited-edition Hershey’s SHE bars that will hit shelves this month, in celebration of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day. Each word honors girls and women and was lovingly suggested by participants in Girls on the Run, the non-profit partner organization in Hershey’s SHE Bar initiative, to describe the remarkable women in their own lives.  

This is the second year Hershey has made the SHE bar available nationally, and if I had to choose a word to describe how I personally feel, it’s grateful. I’m thrilled to be a part of a movement that celebrates people for who they genuinely are, whether they’re a friend, mentor, student, partner, daughter, mom or, well, fill in the blank. Even though it’s a new tradition, it’s something we look forward to every year.    

 

The purpose behind the SHE bar 

I think the love and enthusiasm for the SHE bar is rooted in the authenticity of the campaign. With the word “SHE” being core to the Hershey’s name, the SHE bar is grounded in the foundation of the brand, which stands for heartwarming connections. It's always been our mission to bring people together to share a piece of chocolate, and throughout March, we’re encouraging people to hand out SHE bars to important women and girls in their lives, as a way of sparking connection. 

We’re also excited to amplify the work of that partner organization I mentioned, Girls on the Run, because we stand behind their mission to support and encourage girls to be their best. Each year, this physical activity-based youth development program works with more than 200,000 girls of all backgrounds in third through eighth grade, pairing them up with mentors and coaches and inspiring them to reach their limitless potential (you can read more about Girls on the Run by scanning the QR code on the back of a Hershey’s SHE bar or by visiting the Girls on the Run website).

Creating paths for women to succeed is also something we strive for at The Hershey Company, which is one of the few Fortune 500 companies led by a woman, President and CEO Michele Buck, and has been named one of the Top Female-Friendly Companies by Forbes. As a purpose-driven company, Hershey aims to be a part of more moments of goodness for everyone, regardless of who they are.  

 

Honoring and celebrating women 

Fearless. Loving. Hardworking. Intelligent. Fierce. The words go on across the Hershey’s SHE bar wrapper, so much so that we created four different wrappers this year to accommodate our favorite 200 adjectives paying tribute to women. Of course, there are still so many more to add—and that’s where your words come in when you give a bar away.  

Personally, I’m giddy at the idea of handing out SHE bars this March. I’ve been planning for this for months because I know how heartwarming it is to receive a SHE bar. When I first started working at Hershey, my best friend in the world knew how excited I was about the job. She stumbled upon SHE bars at the store and put them in a little celebration package she assembled for me. I still keep those bars on my desk, because they bring me so much joy. I can’t wait to give that gift to other women.