I doubt that whoever buys Hershey would change the name of the company. I would hope that Hersheypark wouldn't turn into "Nestle Park" or something like that. It would be interesting, however, to have the park themed to Willy Wonka.
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If they do sell off Hershey Foods Corp., wonder if they will keep there unique "Candy Bar Characters".
I really don't like the idea of them selling off anything. I can't imagine what Choclate Town USA would be like without that smell of the choclate coming from the factories.
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"The fish are eating the guest, sir
I'm giving up on this one:
Some people get it (like gardner14) that Hershey Entertainment and Resorts is not up for sale, just Hershey Foods... and that some of the changes that may result would be the "costumed characters" and licensing.. and that is even highly unlikely.
Others still don't get it.
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Kind of hard to take a post as objective if a park or coaster name is part of the "user name"
*** This post was edited by SLFAKE on 8/1/2002. ***
What's my point? It is that even though Hershey Foods may be for sale, it is unlikely that the Hershey name will disappear. It is too familiar a brand name. And while the licensing agreements may have to change... I would seriously doubt that Hersheypark and its characters would see any significant changes. Afterall, Hersheypark is great advertising for the Hershey Foods brand names.
An update:
Nothing park related... well, not really. The Hershey Trust is taking lots of heat for its decision to sell off Hershey Foods.
There is an article in todays Harrisburg Patriot News (can be viewed on line by searchign on Harrisburg Patriot News) that states that several former members of the board have come out and questioned to out right criticized the Trust for its ideas of a sale. One of these former members was J.Bruce McKinney, former chairman of Hershey Entertainment and Resorts and also top man at the park back in at least the late 1970's and former trust Chariman of the board until as late as 2000. Also included is Kenneth Hatt, former chariman of the board and former chairman of Hershey Entertainment and Resorts.
There seem to be talks that Hershey Foods has made an offer to buy the stock that Hershey Trust wants to unload.
In the article McKinney didn't state anything about other things in Hershey, but he like many people in the area, is concerned that if Hershey Foods leaves, is concerned about the impact that it will have on the community. McKinney stated that they want trust to accept HersheyFoods offer to buy off the stock that the trust wants to unload (but somehow still giving the trust control with voting power) or drop the idea of the sale all together.
A rally is planned for tommorrow in downtown Hershey to "protest" the decision of the trust to sell off Hershey Foods.
For what it is worth, it is good to see that at least two of the former top men at Hershey Entertainment and Resorts and the park (McKinney and Hatt) are taking the Trust to task over this idea of theirs.
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Kind of hard to take a post as objective if a park or coaster name is part of the "user name"
*** This post was edited by SLFAKE on 8/1/2002. ***
*** This post was edited by SLFAKE on 8/1/2002. ***
If this rumor was true which it clearly is not why would CP buy Hershey when it is an hour away.
I would say Dorney and Hershey are in direct compettion with each other. Heck earlier this week I stayed at the Hershey Highmeadow campground and then went to Dorney in morning for a few hours. Took about an hour to go there and then came back to Hershey at night.
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All I need is 4.5 million bucks and a half a mile long sliver of land and maybe someone could build me my very own Shivering Timbers. ;)
What rumor is that you are referring to?
Hershey Foods up for sale? True... at least Hershey Trust is looking into it.
Hersheypark up for sale? Untrue... Hershey Entertainment and Resorts (as stated oh so many times above) is a separate entity from Hershey Foods, though both are controlled by Hershey Trust.
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Kind of hard to take a post as objective if a park or coaster name is part of the "user name"
SFLake, Thank you again for your information. It may be slightly unrelated to themeparks and coasters, but it's not really in a way.
I appreciate your bringing that article to our attention. I will be heading for Hershey next week, and I am looking forward to this annual family trip immensely. I hope everything within the Hershey company(s) works out so that this is not one of my last trips to the town as I have come to know and enjoy it.
-Greg
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Six Flags, the only chain of parks that can manage to have stacking with a one train operation.
Two more things that I found in Harrisburg Patriot New Articles:
1) In 1927 things were split in Hershey and two companies were formed... Hershey Chocolate (precursor to Hershey Foods) and Hershey Estates (precursor to Hershey Entertainment and Resorts). Why? So that if something happened to the "industry" (i.e. the chocolate company), the town would not lose everything. In other words, all the egs were not in one basket.
2) in another article, it was stated that, in the event of a sale, the adminstrators of the trust would "guarentee" that Hershey Entertainment and Resorts would keep their licensing agreements with Hershey candy products. (i.e. the strolling costumed characters would stay in the park, etc etc etc). Not sure how they would arrange such a guarentee with a new owner.
The article also breaks down what is owned by whom... Hershey Entertainment and Resorts: Hersheypark, ZooAmerica, Hotel Hershey, Hershey Lodge and Convention Center, Hershey Bears hockey team (I forgot the lodge and convention center in the list above).
Hershey Foods: the factory and Chocolate world.
Just thought I would keep things up to date.
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Kind of hard to take a post as objective if a park or coaster name is part of the "user name"
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