2019 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT

Beginning in 2018, Hershey has collaborated with one of the largest providers of the Midday Meal Scheme in India, Annamrita, along with IIT-Bombay and Sion Hospital. This collaboration is exploring how different foods and snacks could enhance Annamrita’s existing school lunches to provide even greater nutrition to school-aged children.

In 2019, the consortium of partners first completed a baseline assessment of the nutritional status of 800 children aged six to 18 in four urban schools in underserved areas of Mumbai. The research results indicated that 30 percent of the children had a below normal body mass index. Of this 30 percent, 18 percent were determined to be thin, 11 percent were severely thin and 0.9 percent were underweight.

In response to the baseline data, the Hershey India Research & Development team then worked to reformulate one of our flagship products Sofit soymilk. The new product, Sofit Plus, is a vitamin and protein-enhanced version of the original beverage specifically formulated to address the nutrition needs identified in the baseline study. Hershey is now working with Annamrita to distribute the beverage alongside their mid-day meals to approximately 800 children.

WHAT’S NEXT
Throughout the first half of 2020 Sion Hospital and IIT-Bombay will continue to assess the nutritional and educational impacts, where possible, of Sofit Plus.

“We are excited about the potential of this product, backed by thorough research and development, to help address the low nutrition levels amongst the designated group of children and further help us contribute towards a brighter future for them.”
Herjit Bhalla, Managing Director, Hershey India

Read more in Hershey's 2019 Sustainability Report

The Hershey Company

The Hershey Company

The Hershey Company is headquartered in Hershey, Pennsylvania and is an industry-leading snacks company known for making more moments of goodness through its iconic brands, remarkable people and enduring commitment to doing the right thing for its people, planet and communities. Hershey has nearly 20,000 employees in the U.S. and around the world who work every day to deliver delicious, high-quality products. The company has more than 100 brand names in approximately 80 countries worldwide that drive more than $10.4 billion in annual revenues, including Hershey's, Reese's, Kit Kat®, Jolly Rancher and Ice Breakers, and fast-growing salty snacks including SkinnyPop, Pirate's Booty and Dot's Homestyle Pretzels.  

For more than 125 years, Hershey has been committed to operating fairly, ethically and sustainably. The candy and snack maker’s founder, Milton Hershey, created Milton Hershey School in 1909 and since then the company has focused on helping children succeed through equitable access to education. 

To learn more visit www.thehersheycompany.com.

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