Hershey’s Chocolate Unveils Partnership with U.S. Gymnast Simone Biles and Campaign That Delivers Messages on Chocolate Bars to Team USA Athletes

Biles joins Team Hershey’s to star in “Hello From Home” Campaign with 2012 U.S. Olympic gold medalist Jordan Burroughs and 2012 U.S. Paralympic gold medalist Mallory Weggemann

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Three-time World All Around Champion gymnast and U.S. Olympic hopeful Simone Biles in Hershey's campaign, "Hello From Home"

HERSHEY, Pa.--()--The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) and its flagship brand, Hershey’s, today launched its first-ever Team USA-themed advertising campaign, “Hello From Home,” an extension of their “Hello Happy” campaign, with the announcement of three-time World All Around Champion gymnast and U.S. Olympic hopeful Simone Biles joining the Hershey’s family. Biles joins 2012 U.S. Olympic gold medalist Jordan Burroughs and 2012 U.S. Paralympic gold medalist Mallory Weggemann as part of the Hershey roster of Team USA athletes.

The newest extension of the Hershey’s campaign, “Hello From Home” features three stellar, super-star athletes as well as their family and friends who have been by their side throughout their journey to compete in the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. “Hello From Home" chronicles the importance of Team USA athletes, including Biles, Burroughs, and Weggemann, feeling connected to their supporters, the backbone behind the success of each athlete, as they pursue their dreams.

The campaign gives viewers an inside glimpse of what the journey to the Games may be like – complete with the dedication and sacrifices, but also the love, caring and kindness demonstrated by family and friends. The magic of the campaign is unveiled when the athletes’ open their iconic Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bars to find “hellos from home,” hand-written notes of encouragement, love and support from those closest to them.

“We are honored to welcome Simone Biles to our Hershey roster of athletes in the lead up to the Rio Games. As a young athlete, who is often on the road and training all hours of the day, we want to remind her that Hershey is on her side, and we want to help bring the warm memories of family and friends even when thousands of miles away from home,” explains Melinda Lewis, Senior Director, Hershey’s brand. “Each of our athletes featured within ‘Hello From Home’ tell a unique story – one of passion and dedication but also the importance of a support system and close friends and family connections that they have while pursuing their dreams of competing at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Through our commitment to Team USA and the Olympic and Paralympic movements, we want to inspire fans nationwide to connect with Team USA and send a ‘hello’ so Hershey’s can deliver that support with our iconic Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bars to athletes throughout the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

With the “Hello From Home” campaign, Hershey’s brand aims to establish a connection, bring a piece of home, a piece of comfort and familiarity, to members of Team USA as they embark on their journey to the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Over the course of the next few months, Hershey’s brand will serve as the spark, inspiring consumers to act and facilitating messages to bring happiness and “hellos” to Team USA athletes. The campaign will feature a variety of “Hello From Home” athlete videos, a #hellofromhome digital campaign and submission tools for fans to deliver their own “hellos” with the ultimate goal of delivering the messages to Team USA athletes while they are training, competing at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Team Trials, and while on the ground in Rio pursuing their dreams. Fans will be able to use #hellofromhome hashtag on social media to send virtual messages to Team USA.

“Hello From Home” is how the campaign is being expressed to engage the country to support Team USA at the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and continue to the brand’s “Hello Happy. Hello Hershey’s.” campaign, which was launched earlier this year to focus on the emotional connection consumers have with its iconic and loved portfolio of products. Hershey’s brand aims to inspire people to take a moment, look around, and make the decision to choose happiness, creating special moments and memories with their loved ones. At its core, the campaign is about inspiring people to seize the moment and connect, initially with the launch focused on family, and now on a stage with Team USA for the Games.

The announcement builds off an earlier announcement when Hershey’s brand announced its two-year partnership with USA Gymnastics as the exclusive confectionery sponsor through 2017. Hershey’s brand also welcomed Shannon Miller, the most decorated American gymnast in history and two-time Olympic gold medalist, to be a part of the Hershey family and serve as a brand ambassador through the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Hershey Company will sponsor the United States Olympic Committee, and will support Team USA athletes through the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Additional information may be found at hersheysteamusa.com | Facebook: facebook.com/hersheys | Twitter: @hersheys #HelloFromHome.

About The Hershey Company

The Hershey Company, headquartered in Hershey, Pa., is a global confectionery leader known for bringing goodness to the world through its chocolate, sweets, mints and other great-tasting snacks. Hershey has approximately 22,000 employees around the world who work every day to deliver delicious, quality products. The company has more than 80 brands around the world that drive more than $7.4 billion in annual revenues, including such iconic brand names as Hershey's, Reese's, Hershey's Kisses, Jolly Rancher, Ice Breakers and Brookside. Building on its core business, Hershey is expanding its portfolio to include a broader range of delicious snacks. The company remains focused on growing its presence in key international markets while continuing to extend its competitive advantage in North America.

At Hershey, goodness has always been about more than delicious products. For more than 120 years, Hershey has been committed to operating fairly, ethically and sustainably. Hershey founder, Milton Hershey, created the Milton Hershey School in 1909 and since then the company has focused on giving underserved children the skills and support they need to be successful. Today, the company continues this social purpose through 'Nourishing Minds,' a global initiative that provides basic nutrition to help children learn and grow. From neighborhoods across the United States to the streets of Shanghai and Mumbai and villages of West Africa, our goal is to nourish one million minds by 2020.

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About the USOC

Founded in 1894 and headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the United States Olympic Committee serves as both the National Olympic Committee and National Paralympic Committee for the United States. As such, the USOC is responsible for the training, entering and funding of U.S. teams for the Olympic, Paralympic, Youth Olympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games, while serving as a steward of the Olympic and Paralympic movements throughout the country. For more information, visit TeamUSA.org.

Contacts

The Hershey Company
Anna Lingeris, 717-649-7214
alingeris@hersheys.com

Contacts

The Hershey Company
Anna Lingeris, 717-649-7214
alingeris@hersheys.com