98 Chocolate Fortunes
holds over 30 percent of the stock and controls the majority
of voting rights of the Hershey Company. In the latter part of
his life, Hershey occupied himself with various philanthropic
endeavors, and these values of giving back and commitment
to community became an integral part of the company’s cul-
ture.
From a business perspective, Hershey’s legacy of dogged
persistence and dedication to his dream paid off in ways that
perhaps even he couldn’t have imagined. The Hershey Com-
pany continued to grow well after his death as the company
acquired Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups in 1963, began produc-
ing KitKat for the U.S. market under license from the British
chocolate maker Rowntree Products in 1969, and the com-
pany’s product line