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UNITED
STATES
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SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
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Washington,
D.C. 20549
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______________________________
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FORM
8-K
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CURRENT
REPORT
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Pursuant
to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
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Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
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July
16,
2007
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Date
of Report (Date of earliest event
reported)
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The
Hershey
Company
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(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its
charter)
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Delaware
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(State
or other jurisdiction of
incorporation)
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1-183
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23-0691590
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(Commission
File Number)
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(IRS
Employer Identification No.)
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100
Crystal A Drive, Hershey,
Pennsylvania 17033
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(Address
of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip
Code)
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Registrant's
telephone number, including area code: (717)
534-4200
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Check
the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under
any
of the following provisions:
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[ ]
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Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities
Act (17 CFR 230.425)
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[ ]
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Soliciting
material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14a-12)
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[ ]
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Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17
CFR
240.14d-2(b))
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[ ]
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Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17
CFR
240.13e-4(c))
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INFORMATION
TO BE INCLUDED IN REPORT
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Item
5.02
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Departure
of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment
of
Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain
Officers
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The
Board of Directors of The Hershey
Company (the “Company”) elected H. P. Alfonso, age 50, to the office of Senior
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, effective July 16, 2007. Mr.
Alfonso, a Certified Public Accountant, joined the Company in July 2006 as
Vice
President, Finance and Planning, U.S. Commercial Group. Prior to
joining the Company, he was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
of Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages (March 2005 to July 2006), Vice
President Finance, Global Supply Chain of Cadbury Schweppes (London, UK) (May
2003 to February 2005) and Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Pfizer
Inc., Adams Division (August 2000 to April 2003). A copy of the
Company’s press release announcing Mr. Alfonso’s promotion is attached hereto as
Exhibit 99.1.
The
Company does not have an employment
agreement with Mr. Alfonso. Mr. Alfonso is compensated in accordance
with the plans and programs available generally to executive officers of the
Company, as outlined in the Company’s proxy statement for its 2007 annual
meeting of stockholders, filed March 16, 2007. The Compensation and
Executive Organization Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors will
consider changes to Mr. Alfonso’s compensation in recognition of his promotion
at its regularly scheduled meeting in August, 2007.
Mr.
Alfonso replaces David J. West as
Chief Financial Officer. Mr. West, who was promoted to the position
of Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer on January 24, 2007,
remained in the position of acting Chief Financial Officer until his successor
was elected. For information regarding Mr. West’s promotion to
Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, please refer to the Company’s
Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 24, 2007.
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Item
9.01
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Financial
Statements and Exhibits
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(d)
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Exhibits
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99.1
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Press
Release dated July 16, 2007
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant
has
duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized.
Date: July
19, 2007
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THE
HERSHEY COMPANY
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By: /s/
David J. West
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David
J. West
Executive
Vice President, Chief Operating
Officer
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EXHIBIT
INDEX
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Exhibit
No.
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Description
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99.1
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The
Hershey Company Press Release dated July 16, 2007
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Exhibit
99.1
Hershey
Names Bert Alfonso Senior Vice President,
Chief
Financial Officer
HERSHEY,
Pa., July 16, 2007 — Richard H. Lenny, Chairman, President and Chief
Executive Officer, The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) today announced that Bert
Alfonso, Vice President, Finance and Planning, North American Commercial Group,
has been named Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, effective
immediately. Alfonso will report to Lenny.
“Bert’s
nearly 25 years of financial leadership and his record of accomplishment made
him the clear choice after an extensive internal and external search,” Lenny
said. “Over the past year, Bert has developed an excellent team and further
strengthened Hershey’s financial insight, analysis and sales planning
capabilities. Bert’s knowledge of the confectionery industry and deep
international experience will be crucial as we expand Hershey’s North American
leadership position and accelerate growth in high-potential global markets.
Bert
will also build upon Hershey’s relationships with the financial community and
maintain our strong control environment.”
Alfonso
joined Hershey in July 2006 as Vice President, Finance and Planning, U.S.
Commercial Group from Cadbury Schweppes, where he was Executive Vice President
Finance, Chief Financial Officer, Americas Beverages. He led all finance and
information technology functions for the United States, Canada, Mexico and
the
Caribbean region.
Alfonso
joined Cadbury Schweppes in 2003 as Vice President Finance, Global Supply Chain.
In this role, he was based in London with responsibility for developing
financial and strategic aspects of the company’s global supply chain, including
logistics, procurement and sourcing.
Prior
to
joining Cadbury Schweppes, Alfonso was Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer for the Adams Division of Pfizer, Inc. From 1983 to 2000, he worked
in a
variety of financial leadership positions at Warner Lambert, culminating in
the
role of Vice President and International Treasurer.
A
native
of Cuba, Alfonso graduated from Rutgers University with a bachelor’s degree in
accounting. He holds an MBA in marketing from Rutgers and is a Certified Public
Accountant.
About
The Hershey Company
The
Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) is the largest North American manufacturer of
quality chocolate and sugar confectionery products. With revenues of nearly
$5
billion and more than 13,000 employees worldwide, The Hershey Company markets
such iconic brands as Hershey’s, Reese’s, Hershey’s Kisses, and Ice
Breakers. Hershey is the leader in the fast-growing dark and premium
chocolate segment, with such brands as Hershey’s Special
Dark, Hershey’s Extra Dark and Cacao Reserve by Hershey’s.
Hershey’s Ice Breakers franchise delivers refreshment across a
variety of mint and gum flavors and formats. In addition, Hershey leverages
its
iconic brands, marketplace scale and confectionery and nut expertise to develop
and deliver substantial snacks, including Hershey’s
and Reese’s single-serve cookies and brownies, and value-added
snack nuts, including Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Covered Almonds and
Hershey’s Special Dark Chocolate Covered Almonds. Hershey also offers a
range of products to address the health and well-being needs of today’s
consumer. Hershey’s and Reese’s Snacksters offer consumers
great-tasting snacks in portion-controlled servings, while Hershey’s dark
chocolate
offerings provide the benefits of flavanol antioxidants. In addition, Artisan
Confections Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Hershey Company,
markets
such
premium chocolate offerings as Scharffen Berger, known for its
high-cacao dark chocolate products, Joseph Schmidt, recognized for its
fine, handcrafted chocolate gifts, and Dagoba, known for its
high-quality natural and organic chocolate bars. Visit us at
www.hersheynewsroom.com.
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Media
Contact:
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Kirk
Saville
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717-534-7641
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