HSY · 10-Q · 2026Q3 · Full report

Acquisition / Partnership / Divestiture

HERSHEY CO · 2026-10-29 · Importance 52 · Surprise 68

Hershey completed its acquisition of LesserEvil, LLC on November 18, 2025; the acquired company makes organic popcorn and puffed snacks for retailers and distributors in the United States and Canada. Hershey said the acquisition complements its portfolio and increases manufacturing capacity. LesserEvil contributed approximately 2% to consolidated sales growth and approximately 20% and 21% to North America Salty Snacks sales growth in the third quarter and first nine months of 2026, respectively.

Key facts

• Hershey completed its acquisition of LesserEvil, LLC on November 18, 2025; LesserEvil produces and sells organic popcorn and puffed snack products in the United States and Canada, and the acquisition increases manufacturing capacity. source
• The 2025 acquisition of LesserEvil contributed approximately a 2% benefit to third-quarter 2026 net sales. source
• The 2025 LesserEvil acquisition contributed approximately a 2% benefit to first-nine-months 2026 net sales. source
• Hershey made no intangible-asset purchases in 2026; in 2025 it purchased the Fulfil brand in North America for $73.6 million. source
• Hershey paid $16.6 million of contingent consideration related to previous business combinations during the first nine months of 2026; no contingent consideration was paid in the same period of 2025. source
• Hershey received approximately $14.4 million in payments from tax-credit partnership investments in the first nine months of 2026, compared with approximately $14.3 million in the same period of 2025. source