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Hershey's closing its online gift service

Thu Jul 2, 2009 3:38 PM EDT

HERSHEY — People who like to order chocolate and gifts from Hershey's online service won't be able to after this month.

The nation's second-largest candy maker, The Hershey Co., announced it is closing the Hershey Gifts service July 31.

Spokesman Kirk Saville says the company is looking into other e-commerce options, including strategic partnerships and licensing agreements.

He would not say how much revenue the service brings in or whether it is losing money.

About 12 Hershey's Gifts employees will lose their jobs, and Saville says the company is working to find them jobs inside the Hershey, Pa.-based company.

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Regions: United States , Harrisburg/Lancaster/Lebanon/York

Public Discussion (1)

{"commentId":8017304,"authorDomain":"LebanonPA"}

LebanonPA

As a resident of a neighboring county I highly doubt the jobs will be available to them.

Reese's and Hershey bring in temporary employees annually, and recently those numbers have been declining. Hershey is closing plants and moving production to Mexico. Even the granddaughter of the founder Milton Hershey stated they Hershey products should be boycotted for the company moving them to Mexico.

Over the years people from the historical Hershey Co. plant in Hershey, PA have been laid off for years. Declining numbers as well as production requirements. The hourly wage at Hershey and Reese's used to make the company a desirable place to get into, especially if you could right out of school. They are family based companies so they prefer to bring in family members. Minimum pays were $15, typical pay was $17 and technical (mechanic/electrician) ranged from $20 to $28. Though a little over a 3 years ago they gouged those rates.

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