Hershey’s Employee Communications: Navigating Change in a Multi-Category Snacks Company

Hershey’s longstanding history, dating back to 1894, doesn’t protect its team from today’s workplace pressures. Employees are faced with competing priorities, limited time, delivering strong results in a dynamic market, and keeping up with changing consumer preferences and industry trends.

I transitioned into employee communications in early 2024 after previously focusing on external audiences and channels. The Hershey Communications team is made up of forward-thinking, high-caliber professionals who bring extensive external expertise alongside a deep understanding of what employees care about. Drawing on data-informed insights, we listened closely to their perspectives — whether openly shared or more quietly expressed. Meanwhile, the company itself was undergoing a significant transformation. With the addition of salty snack brands, Hershey was growing beyond its roots as a pure candy manufacturer and becoming a multi-category snacking enterprise — requiring us to manage structural and operational change alongside ongoing external pressures.