Hershey puts "SHE" at the centre of its gender-equity efforts by transforming its signature chocolate bar

The Hershey Company is celebrating women by putting "SHE" at the centre of its efforts.

To recognize, honour and uplift women and girls on International Women's Day (March 8) and to celebrate Women's History Month in the U.S., the company is releasing limited-edition packaging on its Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bars.

This year, award-winning #HerSHE campaign, which originated in Brazil in 2020, will be activated in seven international markets, including Canada, Brazil, India, Mexico, Philippines and Saudi Arabia. The program transforms the Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar wrapper into a celebration of cultural female icons in each country by highlighting their accomplishments and the impact they've made in their respective countries.

In a release the company said the effort "recognize the central role women and girls play in all of our lives. The packaging serves as a reminder to celebrate the impact that women and girls make." The full-sized bars are available through May while supplies last.

"When women are empowered, they lift their communities with them," said Alicia Petross, chief diversity officer of The Hershey Company. "Our global programming for International Women's Day and Women's History Month helps us celebrate and highlight how powerful female entrepreneurs, business owners and role models can be within their community. We strive to showcase the power of women both within our company and in the world and give them a platform to keep achieving greatness."   

The Hershey Company has donated $150,000 to Girls on the Run, a U.S.-based nonprofit organization with a mission focused on supporting, empowering, and inspiring girls to realize their limitless potential. This donation will help to further advance Girls on the Run's program delivery, support and expansion, including financial assistance so that any girl has access to participate. Through a council network of 175 local councils serving all 50 states as well as here in Ottawa. 

To further extend women-forward storytelling, Hershey has donated $100,000 and is partnering with Girl Up, a nonprofit committed to advancing girls' skills, rights, and opportunities to be leaders, to amplify the voices of girls and women who are making a difference around the world on digital and social platforms. Founded by the United Nations Foundation in 2010, Girl Up's leadership development programs have impacted more than 125,000 girls through 5,000 clubs in 130 countries.

The Hershey Company is also leveraging innovative digital marketing partnerships to amplify women's achievements on social media. In partnership with Entreprenista, a media company and membership community dedicated to helping women-owned businesses succeed, Hershey will spotlight and celebrate inspiring women in business across the globe through a user-generated social media campaign. Five trailblazers from each market will receive a scholarship to the Entreprenista League, a community of women business owners, investors, co-founders, and thought leaders that are given access to top tier business tools and solutions.

Gender equity is a central focus of The Hershey Company's diversity, equity and inclusion strategy. The company is led by female CEO Michele Buck and was named the #1 World's Top Female-Friendly Companies by Forbes in 2021.