Hershey's scotches exit rumor, confirms it's biz-as-usual in China

The Hershey Company, a US chocolate maker more famous as Hershey's, has scotched rumors it has exited China. Hershey's confirmed its team is continuing operations in the "important" market unhindered.

"We continue to sell our products in China," Hershey's said in a written reply to China Daily.

According to a report on Caijing Magazine's website, Hershey's will continue to invest in China and promote its business. The company told Caijing it does not have any direct-sale stores in China. The closure of dessert stores that sell its products, it clarified, has been the decision of its distributors, not Hershey's.

It may be recalled that Hershey's is upgrading its e-commerce business model in China. It has been revamping its official online store on Tmall, Alibaba's e-commerce platform, and will re-launch it by the end of this month.

As its sales surged during the Spring Festival holiday earlier this month, Hershey's said demand outstripped supply on its online store on JD, a major e-commerce platform in China, leading to "out of stock" notices for many of its products. Hershey's is dealing with the shortage with its distributors. Fresh supplies are expected soon, Caijing reported.

Hershey's plan for the China market is to strengthen cooperation with hundreds of distributors and pursue growth opportunities through e-commerce platforms. It will also expand its snacks and baking products business lines, and cooperate with some catering channels, Caijing reported.