Hershey vs Hormel: Founders, CEOs and History
Hershey was founded in 1894 by Milton S. Hershey and is led by Kirk Tanner. Hormel was founded in 1891 by George A. Hormel and is led by Jeffrey M. Ettinger.
Company facts
Founders
Hershey
Milton S. Hershey
The Hershey Company possesses arguably the most well-known, utopian founding story in American industrial history, rooted in the persistence of a man who failed notably before inventing the modern American chocolate industry.
Hormel
George A. Hormel
George A. Hormel (1860-1946) founded Geo. A. Hormel & Co. in Austin, Minnesota in 1891. He established a small meatpacking facility that heavily emphasized minimizing waste, utilizing every part of the hog.
CEOs and their tenures
Hershey
- David J. West2007–2011
President and CEO
He left in 2011 and John Bilbrey succeeded him.
Source - John P. Bilbrey2011–2017
President and CEO
He retired in 2017 and Michele Buck succeeded him.
Source - Michele Buck2017–2025
Former Chief Executive Officer
Buck is universally credited with modernizing the historic chocolate company, transforming it into a diversified, resilient snacking empire capable of sustaining long-term growth.
Source - Kirk Tanner2025–present
Chief Executive Officer
While his tenure is just beginning Tanner is tasked with proving that Hershey's recent transition into a diversified 'snacking leader' can be integrated and scaled globally.
Source
Hormel
- Joel W. Johnson1993–2005
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
He moved Hormel toward branded and convenience foods. Jeffrey Ettinger succeeded him at the start of 2006.
Source - Jim Snee2016–2025
Former Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
Snee broadened Hormel into snacking, but his final years were marked by commodity inflation, turkey weakness and falling profits. He retired as CEO in July 2025 and agreed to stay on as an advisor during the transition.
Source - John Ghingo2025–present
President; CEO effective October 26, 2026
As CEO-elect he is focused on priority brands, foodservice growth and portfolio shaping, including the Brakebush chicken acquisition.
Source - Jeffrey M. Ettinger2025–2026
Interim Chief Executive Officer
As interim CEO he oversaw the Transform and Modernize cost program, the Brazil divestiture and the Brakebush agreement, while adjusted earnings returned to growth in fiscal 2026.
Source
Timeline: Hershey and Hormel side by side
1891Hormel
George A. Hormel & Company Founded
George A. Hormel starts the company in Austin, Minnesota.
1894Hershey
Founding of Hershey Chocolate Company
Milton S. Hershey founded the Hershey Chocolate Company as a subsidiary of the Lancaster Caramel Company, initially producing chocolate coatings for his caramels before recognizing the potential of solid milk chocolate.
1900Hershey
Sale of Lancaster Caramel Company
Milton S. Hershey sold the Lancaster Caramel Company for $1 million to focus entirely on the chocolate business, retaining the chocolate department and the rights to the milk chocolate formula he had developed.
1903Hershey
Construction of the Hershey Factory
Construction began on the Hershey Chocolate factory in Derry Township, Pennsylvania, designed to be the most advanced chocolate manufacturing facility in the world, utilizing continuous-flow production systems.
1907Hershey
Introduction of Hershey's Kisses
The company launched the Hershey's Kiss, a small, teardrop-shaped piece of chocolate that was individually wrapped in a thin strip of foil, becoming one of the most well-known and recognizable confectionery products in history.
1928Hershey
Introduction of Mr. Goodbar
Hershey launched Mr. Goodbar, a milk chocolate bar packed with roasted peanuts, which became a commercial success and established the company's dominance in the combination chocolate bar category.
1937Hormel
SPAM Introduced
Hormel introduces SPAM, creating one of the world's most recognizable shelf-stable protein brands.
1938Hershey
Introduction of Krackel
The company introduced Krackel, a milk chocolate bar with crisped rice, expanding its portfolio of everyday chocolate bars and using its manufacturing expertise in rice processing.
1963Hershey
Introduction of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
While Reese's was founded earlier, Hershey acquired the brand in 1963, a move that would eventually create the company's largest and most profitable franchise, generating over $3 billion in annual retail sales today.
1985Hormel
Austin Plant Strike
Workers at the Hormel plant in Austin, Minnesota, went on strike in August 1985 in a dispute that lasted into 1986.
1993Hormel
Renamed Hormel Foods
Geo. A. Hormel and Company was renamed Hormel Foods Corporation in 1993.
1996Hershey
Acquisition of Leaf Inc.
Hershey acquired Leaf Inc., adding well-known brands like Jolly Rancher, Whoppers, and Milk Duds to its portfolio, significantly expanding its presence in the non-chocolate confectionery market.
2001Hormel
Jennie-O Acquisition
Hormel expands its turkey platform through Jennie-O Turkey Store.
2013Hormel
Skippy Acquisition
Hormel acquires Skippy, adding a major peanut-butter brand to the portfolio.
2015Hormel
Acquired Applegate Farms
Hormel Foods acquired Applegate Farms for $775 million. Hormel executed a strategic acquisition of Applegate Farms for $775 million to capture the rapidly growing consumer demand for natural, organic, and antibiotic-free premium meat products.
2017Hershey
Michele Buck Appointed CEO
Michele Buck was appointed CEO, initiating a rigorous strategic transformation plan focused on portfolio diversification, manufacturing modernization, and supply chain resilience, which drove the company's success in navigating record cocoa inflation.
2021Hershey
Acquisition of Dot's Homestyle Pretzels
Hershey acquired Dot's Homestyle Pretzels for about $1.2 billion and its manufacturing partner Pretzels Inc. in December 2021, expanding its salty snack segment.
2021Hormel
Planters Acquisition
Hormel acquires the Planters snack nuts portfolio from Kraft Heinz.
2024Hershey
Record Net Income Before Cocoa Shock
Hershey reported $11.20 billion in 2024 net sales and record net income of $2.22 billion, before record cocoa costs hit 2025 results. In December 2024, reports said Mondelez had again approached Hershey about a deal; no transaction followed.
2025Hershey
Kirk Tanner Becomes CEO
Former Wendy's CEO Kirk Tanner succeeded Michele Buck as President and CEO on August 18, 2025. Hershey closed the LesserEvil acquisition in November 2025 and reported $11.69 billion in 2025 net sales.
2025Hormel
CEO Transition
John Ghingo is elevated to president and Jeffrey M. Ettinger becomes interim CEO effective July 14, 2025.
2025Hormel
FY2025 Net Sales of $12.106B
Hormel reports FY2025 net sales of $12.106 billion and net earnings attributable to Hormel Foods of $478.197 million.
2026Hormel
Brazil Divestiture
Hormel agreed to sell its Brazil (Ceratti) business in Q3 fiscal 2026; the sale closed early in Q4.
2026Hormel
Brakebush Agreement
Hormel agreed to buy value-added chicken company Brakebush Brothers for about $1.055 billion.
Acquisitions
Hershey
- LesserEvil2025$750M
- Dot's Homestyle Pretzels2021$1.2B
- Lily's Sweets2021$425M
- Amplify Snack Brands2018$1.6B
Hormel
- Brakebush Brothers2026$1.1B
- Planters2021$3.4B
- Applegate Farms2015$775M
- Skippy2013$700M
- Jennie-O Turkey Store2001Undisclosed
Questions about Hershey vs Hormel
Who is the CEO of The Hershey Company and Hormel Foods Corporation?
The Hershey Company is led by Kirk Tanner and Hormel Foods Corporation is led by Jeffrey M. Ettinger. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was The Hershey Company founded vs Hormel Foods Corporation?
Hormel Foods Corporation was founded in 1891 — 3 years before The Hershey Company, which was founded in 1894. Hormel Foods Corporation's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger The Hershey Company.
How many employees does The Hershey Company have compared to Hormel Foods Corporation?
The Hershey Company employs approximately 19,595 people, while Hormel Foods Corporation employs approximately 20,000. Hormel Foods Corporation has the larger workforce at 20,000 employees, compared to The Hershey Company's 19,595. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are The Hershey Company and Hormel Foods Corporation headquartered?
Both The Hershey Company and Hormel Foods Corporation are headquartered in United States. Their local rules and tax obligations may still differ.
Who founded The Hershey Company and Hormel Foods Corporation?
The Hershey Company was founded by Milton S. Hershey. Hormel Foods Corporation was founded by George A. Hormel.
Which company has a longer operating history — The Hershey Company or Hormel Foods Corporation?
Hormel Foods Corporation has been operating for approximately 135 years, making it the more established of the two companies. The Hershey Company has been in operation for around 132 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Hershey vs Hormel overview