Hershey vs Mondelez: Founders, CEOs and History
Hershey was founded in 1894 by Milton S. Hershey and is led by Kirk Tanner. Mondelez was founded in 2012 by Irene Rosenfeld, Adolphus Green, James L. Kraft and is led by Dirk Van de Put.
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.
Mondelez
Irene Rosenfeld
As CEO of Kraft Foods, Irene Rosenfeld led the 2010 Cadbury acquisition and the 2012 split that created Mondelēz International. She was Mondelez's first CEO until November 2017 and chair until early 2018.
Adolphus Green
Adolphus Green helped form the National Biscuit Company (Nabisco) in 1898 and led it as president. Nabisco, which introduced Oreo in 1912, later became part of Kraft and is now a core Mondelez business.
James L. Kraft
James L. Kraft founded the business that became Kraft, and patented a process for processed cheese in 1916. Mondelez descends legally from the Kraft corporate family, so he is a heritage founder rather than a founder of the 2012 company.
CEOs and their tenures
Hershey
- 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
Mondelez
- Irene Rosenfeld2012–2017
Former Chair and Chief Executive Officer
Rosenfeld created Mondelez through the 2012 Kraft split and led it through its first five years, a period marked by zero-based budgeting and activist pressure from Trian and Pershing Square.
Source - Dirk Van de Put2017–present
Chair and Chief Executive Officer
Van de Put refocused Mondelez on chocolate, biscuits and baked snacks, decentralized decisions to regional teams, and grew net revenues from about $25.9B in 2017 to $38.5B in 2025. Since June 2026 he has also chaired AB InBev's board.
Source - Amit Banati2026–present
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Took over finance from Luca Zaramella, who had been serving as COO and CFO.
Source
Timeline: Hershey and Mondelez side by side
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.
1923Mondelez
Kraft corporate predecessor formed
National Dairy Products Corporation, the corporate predecessor of Kraft and later Mondelez, was formed in 1923.
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.
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.
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.
2012Mondelez
Mondelēz International Spun Off
On October 1, 2012, Kraft Foods spun off its North American grocery business and renamed the remaining global snacks company Mondelēz International.
2015Mondelez
The Coffee Merger
Mondelēz merges its coffee division with D.E Master Blenders to form JDE Peet's, retaining an equity stake.
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.
2017Mondelez
Dirk Van de Put Appointed CEO
Dirk Van de Put, former CEO of McCain Foods, became CEO in November 2017 and later added the chair role.
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.
2022Mondelez
The $2.9 Billion Clif Bar Acquisition
Mondelez acquired Clif Bar & Company for $2.9 billion upfront, adding Clif and Luna bars.
2023Mondelez
The Gum Division Divestiture
Mondelez sold its developed-market gum business, including Trident and Dentyne, to Perfetti Van Melle for $1.35 billion.
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.
2026Mondelez
Amit Banati becomes CFO
Former Kellanova CFO Amit Banati became EVP and CFO on July 1, 2026, succeeding Luca Zaramella.
2026Mondelez
Q2 2026 results and raised outlook
Q2 2026 net revenues rose 4.1% to $9.355 billion and Mondelez raised its 2026 organic revenue growth outlook.
Acquisitions
Hershey
- LesserEvil2025$750M
- Dot's Homestyle Pretzels2021$1.2B
- Lily's Sweets2021$425M
- Amplify Snack Brands2018$1.6B
Questions about Hershey vs Mondelez
Who is the CEO of The Hershey Company and Mondelez International, Inc.?
The Hershey Company is led by Kirk Tanner and Mondelez International, Inc. is led by Dirk Van de Put. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was The Hershey Company founded vs Mondelez International, Inc.?
The Hershey Company was founded in 1894 — 118 years before Mondelez International, Inc., which was founded in 2012. The Hershey Company's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Mondelez International, Inc..
How many employees does The Hershey Company have compared to Mondelez International, Inc.?
The Hershey Company employs approximately 19,595 people, while Mondelez International, Inc. employs approximately 91,000. Mondelez International, Inc. has the larger workforce at 91,000 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 Mondelez International, Inc. headquartered?
Both The Hershey Company and Mondelez International, Inc. are headquartered in United States, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.
Who founded The Hershey Company and Mondelez International, Inc.?
The Hershey Company was founded by Milton S. Hershey. Mondelez International, Inc. was founded by Irene Rosenfeld, Adolphus Green, James L. Kraft.
Which company has a longer operating history — The Hershey Company or Mondelez International, Inc.?
The Hershey Company has been operating for approximately 132 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Mondelez International, Inc. has been in operation for around 14 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 Mondelez overview