1900
Hershey creates Milk Chocolate Bar.
Milton S. Hershey introduces the Milk Chocolate Bar. He also begins the production of Sweethearts. These are vanilla sweet chocolate candy with a heart imprinted on the base. They will be discontinued in 1931.
1903
Milton Hershey builds a chocolate factory and a town for his workers near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
1904
The Cadbury Company develops a dairy milk chocolate.
1906
The town of Derry Church, Pennsylvania changes its name to Hershey to honor Milton S. Hershey.
1907
On July 1, 1907 the first Hershey Kisses are made.
1908
Theodore Tobler develops the unique triangular nougat filled chocolate candy bar called Toblerone.
1908
The Hershey Chocolate Company makes the first milk chocolate bar with almonds.
1909
The Hershey Chocolate Company states making Silvertops. This is a version of the Hershey's Kisses that are sold individually. They are discontinued in 1931.
1911
Frank and Ethel Mars build a candy company in Tacoma, Washington. Later it become the Mars, Inc.
1912
Jean Neuhaus, Jr. invents the first chocolate covered praline. He fills the empty chocolate shell with pralines invented by his father.
1912
The Whitman Company produces the boxed assortments called Whitman's Samplers. This is the first company to have a drawing of where the different chocolates are located in the box.
1919
The Fry family merges with the Cadbury Brothers.
1921
The Hershey Food Corporation begins to wrap the Kisses by machine and add the flag to the wrapping.
1921
The Mounds candy bar is invented by Peter Paul Halijian. He sells it under the name Peter Paul Mounds.
1922
H. B. Reese makes the first Reese's peanut butter cup using Hershey's milk chocolate.
1923
Frank Mars creates the first Milky Way candy bar. This candy has a nougat center.
1923
The Hershey Chocolate Company makes the first Mr. Goodbar.
1927
Baker's Chocolate Company is bought by General Foods Corporation. They move the company to Delaware.
1927
The Hershey Chocolate Company is renamed Hershey Chocolate Corporation.
1928
L. S. Heath & Sons, Inc. develops the toffee candy bar called the Heath Bar. This candy bar can be bought on the home-delivered dairy order form.
1929
Frank Mars opens the Chicago candy plant.
1929
Peter, Cailler, and Kohler merge with Nestlé ending 30 years of rivalry between the two companies.
1930
Frank Mars makes the first Snickers candy bar.
1939
Blommer Chocolate Company begins manufacturing in Chicago, Illinois. It will become the largest commercial chocolate manufacturer in the United States.
1939
Hershey makes the Hershey's Miniatures chocolate bars.
1941
The first M & M's sold.
Forrest Mars returns to the United States from England. He goes into business with Bruce Murrie, who is the one of the president of the Hershey Chocolate Company. They call their new company M & M Ltd. Together they make the first M & M's.
1947
Peter Paul makes the first Almond Joy.
Sam Altshuler starts the Annabelle Candy Company, Inc. He names his company for his daughter and makes the first Rocky Road candy bar.
1962
Hershey's Kisses are wrapped in colors other than silver for the first time.
1963
Hershey Chocolate Company buy H. B. Reese Candy Company, Inc. for $23.5 million.
1966
The Campbell Soup Company buys the Godiva Chocolatier, Inc. of Belgium.
1969
The Cadbury chocolate business merges with the Schweppes soft drinks to form Cadbury Schweppes.
1970
The Tobler company merges with the Suchard to become the largest chocolate company.
1970
Because the Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are so popular the company has to double its size.
1973
The Cadbury Company opens Chocolate World theme park in Bournville, England.
1973
The Hershey Foods Corporation opens its theme park, Hershey's Chocolate World.
1973
Hershey Foods begins putting nutritional information on their labels.
1976
Hershey Chocolate Company adds chopped peanuts to the Reese's Peanut Butter Cups to make Reese's Crunchy.
1977
Hershey Foods makes the first Golden Almond chocolate bar.
1980
An employee of the Schare-Tobler tries to sell secret chocolate recipes to Saudi Arabia, China, and Russia. Luckily he was unsuccessful.
1988
Nestlé buys the British chocolate and candy manufactures Rowntree. This makes Nestlé the world's largest chocolate manufacturer.
1988
Hershey Chocolate Company is renamed Hershey Chocolate U.S.A. The company buys Peter Paul.
1989
Hershey Chocolate U.S.A. makes the Symphony milk chocolate bar with almonds and toffee chips.
1990
Hershey sends 144,000 of their heat-resistant candy bars to soldiers in the Gulf War, Desert Storm.
1991
The recipe for Reese's Peanut Butter Cup is changed to add three times the amount of peanuts.
1993
The first Hershey's Hugs and mini Hershey's Kisses wrapped in white chocolate are sold.
