Joseph Schmidt Confections

Description: The shareholders of Joseph Schmidt Confections were seeking an exit strategy after successfully capitalizing on the European heritage of the company’s founder and building a nationwide brand selling gourmet chocolate products through an exclusive network of high end retailers and specialty stores.  A competitive auction process generated a high degree of interest from major food companies worldwide and resulted in a sale to The Hershey Company.  The acquisition gave Hershey an immediate presence in the gourmet chocolate segment of the industry as well as access to specialized manufacturing and new product capabilities.