Hershey Acquires BarkTHINS Snacking Chocolate

HERSHEY, PA -- The Hershey Co. has purchased Ripple Brand Collective LLC, a privately held company based in Congers, NY, that owns the BarkTHINS snacking chocolate brand. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"This acquisition is a great addition to our Hershey chocolate portfolio and enables us to expand our mass premium offerings into this growing and on-trend category," said Hershey North America president Michele G. Buck.

Launched in 2013, BarkTHINS is made with high-quality dark chocolate, nuts and other ingredients, using fair trade cocoa, with no artificial flavors or preservatives.

The BarkTHINS brand is sold throughout the United States in take-home resealable packages and is available in the club channel and at natural and conventional grocers.

Annual net sales of the business in 2016 are expected to be in the $65 million to $75 million range.

In other news, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday that Hershey will start selling Krave protein bars in August. Krave products are made from dried meats and a combination of other ingredients, including mangos, cranberries and quinoa. Hershey bought the maker of premium beef jerky in January 2015.