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Running head: HERSHEY COMPANY CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY 1

HERSHEY COMPANY CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY 11

Hershey company corporate social responsibility

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Corporate social responsibility or corporate citizen refers to a self-regulating model in business which helps organizations to be socially accountable for their activities both to itself, public as well as stakeholders (Hudson, 2017).Through practicing corporate social responsibilities organizations are able to be conscious of the kind of activities they are involved in and the impact of their activities in all aspects of the society such as in the social, economic and environmental. Participating in the CSR is very critical as it ensures that every individual in an organization is responsible for his or her activities and this ensures there is care for both the planet and fellow human beings. In order for a company to be socially responsible, the company first needs to be accountable to itself as well as the stakeholders. Adopting CSR does not only benefit the society but also the company itself in a greater way (Hudson, 2017).. It is surprisingly that majority of companies that have adopted the CSR have been able to grow and expand greatly up to a levels where they are able to give back to the society.

According to a survey conducted by Cone communication, it come out clear that out of 10 individual, 7 individuals believe that organizations have mandates of engaging into practices and actions that benefits the society as well as the environment at large. Getting involved in corporate social responsibility is very crucial especially for the millennial generation, where about 72% of the millennial have been involved in charitable works as per the millennial impact report. The report also indicate that most of the millennial enjoy taking part in this charitable tasks. Today a number of companies are in the rushing to adopt to CSR with the aim of retaining as well as attracting more customers as well as retaining their employees. According the same study conducted by cone communication, about 90% of the customers are likely to buy products from organizations that have adopted a better CSR. Although a number of organization have adopted CSR in their management, in this paper I have chosen to discuss Hershey Company which operates in North America and deals with chocolate.

Hershey Company

Hershey Company is currently on of the largest chocolate and sugar confectioner products produce in the North America. The company other products includes milkshakes, cookies, cakes and drinks the company headquarters is in Hershey Pennsylvania and its stated back in 1880s. The company founder Milton S. Hershey created the company after attending an exposition in a chocolate manufacturing company in 1883 world’s Columbian exposition. Today this company has grown to be one of the largest chocolate producer in the world with more than 14,000 employees and operating in more than 60 countries (The Hershey Company, 2018). The company has greatly grown and influenced the chocolate industry in a number of ways especially through it strategic supply chain the market. Through the use of modern technology the company has created 3 major distribution centers and thus setting a good pace for other organizations. One of the areas where the company has done extremely well is in the area of corporate social responsibility. The company mission is ensuring commitment in all efforts that aims in protecting the environment (Hershey. Com, 2019). Even as from the company mission, it is clear that the company foundation is molded on ensuring care for the environment and ensuring care is given to the environment for the benefit of the coming generation. Since its inception, the company has always been in the front line when it comes to ensuring and bringing positive changes to the communities and the environment especially in the areas where their employees live, do business work and also in areas where they obtain their raw materials. In its global business strategy, the company has incorporated corporate social responsibility as it integral part. The company corporate social responsibility focuses majorly on ethical business dealings, fairness in its operations, creation of desirable work places for its employees, environmental stewardship as well as ensuring positive impacts to its local communities. The company is also key in ensuring the prosperity of the coming generation through taking part in ensuring better education, medical care as well as proper housing (The Hershey Company, 2018).

Because of the company involvement in the corporate social responsibility, the company was ranked in the top 100 in 2013 and thus appearing among the list of the companies that demonstrate better CSR. This according to the corporate responsibility magazine which ranks company in terms of their involvement and commitment in their commitment in environmental, social as well as economic practices ("Hershey Company Recognized as One of America’s ‘100 Best Corporate Citizens’," 2013).

Hershey corporate social responsibility plans

When it comes to corporate social responsibility, Hershey Company has deep concerns and measures that are aligned to it. Each year, the company releases its sustainability report which clearly shows the milestone the company has taken as well as the measures it plans to take in the future. In the year 2018, the company released its shared goodness report which clearly shows the company commitment in ensuring corporate social responsibility where the company highlighted some of the measures it intended to undertake. According to the report the company highlighted four sustainable key areas that the company strives to achieve. Hershey key sustainability areas includes shared communities, shared planet, shared business and shared future (The Hershey Company, 2018).. Some of the key corporate social responsibility areas that the company has engaged in include:

Market place

In 2013 February Hershey Company announced its roadmap plan to help farmers in the areas where it gets its cocoa from in what it calls its “21st century Cocoa plan”. According to this plan, the company was to reach more than 750,000 cocoa farmers in West Africa. This plan would in return help more than 2 million individuals in the West Africa. To achieve this the company had to combine its responsive sourcing practices which would in return expand cocoa supply through investing in programs that are meant in educating the farmers as well as improving the families of the cocoa faming households (The Hershey Company, 2018). To achieve this the company planned to use mobile assisted apps that the farmers will use through a program it terms as learn to grow.

Hershey aim was to train the farmers about good agricultural practices, how to take care of the environment, business and social practices, how to access good planting material as well as assisting in financing for the planting materials. Through this, the company ensures that there is increased productivity in terms of yields and consequently increase in the farmers income. The program although will benefit the company in increasing its cocoa supply, the program is entirely meant to improve the livelihood of the cocoa farmers. Through the same program, the company also introduced family and development centers which are meant to bring high and technical learning to farmers living in the rural areas (The Hershey Company, 2018). Through the program students are able to interact from other students in different areas where they share different cultural practices which in returns increases the yields. Apart from benefiting more than 750,000 farmers in West African Hershey estimates that the program will also benefit more than 2 million citizens from this region a majorly through the utilization of this technology, through the farmers training, improvement of infrastructure and also through construction of schools.

Taking care of the environment

When it comes to taking care of the environment Hershey Company has taken deep strides in ensuring that our planet is kept safe for the coming generation. Like most of the companies Hershey has come up with a number of measures and programs which are intended to take care for the environment. Through its shared goodness plans, the company has come up with evidence based targets which are meant to ensure there is reduced impacts to the environment. This plans are intended in ensuring that there is sustainable glowing techniques which are less invasive. As part of its corporate social responsibility, the company has come up with different programs that discourage deforestation. In 2017 through collaboration with Arbor Day Foundation, the company was able to plant more than 133,000 in the USA (The Hershey Company, 2018). As part of ensuring care for the environment, the company has also invested in expanding its west Hershey plant where it plans to invest about $300 million for the same. The program is meant to ensure there is zero waste- to-0 landfill. As part of this project, the company plans to install a major water and conservation measures which are meant to conserve the environment. The company also in its strategic plan, has come up with plans which are aimed at reducing emission of greenhouse gases. The plans aims to reduce greenhouse gas emission by 2.7%, by the year 2015, the company aims to reduce gas emission by 25% (The Hershey Company, 2018).

Taking care of the community

Hershey company for a long period of times has been in the from line when it comes to donating products and money with the aim of bringing positive impacts to the lives of people. For instant the company has been supporting united way since 1932. In the year 2011, the company together with its employees contributed more than $2.2 million to united way. The company also contributed a lot of money in forms of product donations with more than $9.1 million. Engaging in the community program is one of the Hershey company core values and pillars with more than a century legacy. The company is also involved in ensuring better nutrition for communities in West African where it serves more than 50,000students in the areas with nutritious biscuits and chocolates. This clearly shows the company is concerned with the coming generation and the well-being of the community. In the year 2012, the organization engaged in a number of charitable causes where is was involved in ensuring the welfare of the communities that surround the company. The charitable causes have been shown to improve the quality of life in the communities.

In 2012 alone, the company employees spent more than 200, 000 hours doing charitable works in their communities and thus setting a new record. The company also, has been in the front line when it comes to empowering women. This has been achieved through ensuring that women have equal representation in the executive committee. This has greatly affected the lives of women in the company operating area. The company also has been involved in other flagship programs that are meant to help the youths where it has come up with Hershey track and field games. In the year 2011, the company was happy to celebrate 34th games birthday which was termed as the one of the youths’ largest and longest running activity in the North America (The Hershey Company, 2018). The program has brought a lot of youths where more than 132,000 youths have participated in this games and thus helping than nurture their talents and thus improving their social lives. It is also surprisingly how Hershey employees and retirees participate in different charitable activities in the community. They work in different organizations such as environmental groups, united way partner as well as in food banks. The employees are also key in ensuring to support different projects in which the projects are aimed at fostering a sense of connection with the community. This is majorly achieved through the pairing of Hershey employees with the Milton Hershey School where employees, community members and students meets for mentorship programs. This school provides free education to the students, food, housing as well as providing care to underserved children from different backgrounds all the way to the 12th grade. The company also through programs such as miracle network team it has been able to help the community to develop through donations.

Coming up with brands that creates a difference in the world.

Hershey company has always in been in the fore front when it comes to coming up with product that are able to create a difference in the world. Hershey product are healthy and highly nutritious which helps in ensuring a healthy community. As the company grows to become a better snaking powerhouse, the company has been key in ensuring that it is involved in cooperate social responsibility through ensuring that its products are sourced responsibly. To achieve this the company has come up with different measures which includes ensures that the sources of cocoa and coconut are sustainable certified. Also, the company has ensured that more than 55,000 farmers from the western African are enrolled in the it’s programs such as learn to grow sustainable agriculture programs (The Hershey Company, 2018).Through the program Hershey Company ensures to teach the farmers best farming practices which are sustainable and friendly to the environment. The programs are aimed at reducing soil pollution and erosion and thus ensuring care for the environment.

Conclusion

Through getting involved in corporates social responsibility, Hershey Company has been able to develop a good reputation both to its customer, employees and the society at large. Through the company shared goodness promise, the company has been able to make major differences in the lives of different individuals especially for the farmers in West Africa. As per the company senior direct, through engaging in corporate social responsibility, the company has been able to focus its resources as well as the talents of its employees. This has led to the creation of important differences in the community as well as the lives of individuals. The company has also been able to develop a sustainable environment and thus giving the company a better platform to focus its resources in the future.

References

Corporate Social Responsibility. (n.d.). Board Directors and Corporate Social Responsibility. doi:10.1057/9780230389304.0017

Hershey Company (THE). (2008). Mergent's Dividend Achievers, 5(3), 135-135. doi:10.1002/div.7397

The Hershey Company Recognized as One of America’s ‘100 Best Corporate Citizens’. (2013, April 12). Retrieved from https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130412005450/en/Hershey-Company-Recognized-America%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%98100-Corporate-Citizens%E2%80%99

The Hershey Company. (2018, June 5). Hershey Announces Its New CSR Strategy, 'Shared Goodness Promise,? and Releases Its 2017 CSR Report. Retrieved from https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2018/06/05/1517230/0/en/Hershey-Announces-Its-New-CSR-Strategy-Shared-Goodness-Promise-and-Releases-Its-2017-CSR-Report.html

The Hershey Company. (2019, May 14). Hershey Highlights Progress in Key Areas of Deforestation, Sustainable Cocoa and Human Rights in 2018 Sustainability Report. Retrieved from https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/05/14/1823639/0/en/Hershey-Highlights-Progress-in-Key-Areas-of-Deforestation-Sustainable-Cocoa-and-Human-Rights-in-2018-Sustainability-Report.html

The Hershey Company. (n.d.). Hershey ?21st Century Cocoa Plan? Outlines Commitment To Sustainable Cocoa And Improving Cocoa Communities. Retrieved from https://www.3blmedia.com/News/Hershey-21st-Century-Cocoa-Plan-Outlines-Commitment-Sustainable-Cocoa-And-Improving-Cocoa

Hudson, A. (2017). Corporate social responsibility. Understanding Company Law, 250-266. doi:10.4324/9781315158099-16

A World without Hershey Kisses? – Technology and Operations Management. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://digital.hbs.edu/platform-rctom/submission/a-world-without-hershey-kisses/