
SkinnyPop is a ready-to-eat popcorn brand owned by The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY). Amplify Snack Brands founded it in Chicago in 2010, and Hershey acquired Amplify for about $1.6 billion in 2017. It is the flagship of Hershey's salty snacks segment.
Parent Company
Acquired
2017
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| SkinnyPop | The Hershey Company | Wholly owned |
Amplify Snack Brands launched SkinnyPop in Chicago in 2010 with a simple popcorn of few ingredients, riding the better-for-you snacking wave to national scale before Hershey bought Amplify for roughly $1.6 billion in 2017. Under Hershey it anchors the company's push beyond confectionery into salty snacks.
What does Hershey own?
Hershey owns a portfolio of approximately 10 major brands across confectionery and snacks, including Hershey's, Reese's, Kit Kat (U.S. license), Jolly Rancher, Twizzlers, Ice Breakers, SkinnyPop, Pirate's Booty, Sour Strips, and LesserEvil. The company also owns manufacturing facilities in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, China, and India.
Is Hershey publicly traded?
Yes, The Hershey Company is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol HSY. The company has been listed since 1927. However, the Milton Hershey School Trust holds approximately 80% of voting power through Class B common stock, giving a charitable trust effective control of the publicly traded company.
Who founded Hershey?
Milton Snavely Hershey founded the company in 1894 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He had previously founded the Lancaster Caramel Company in 1886. Hershey sold his caramel business in 1900 for $1 million and focused on chocolate, building a factory in Derry Church, Pennsylvania, which became the town of Hershey. He and his wife Catherine established the Milton Hershey School in 1909, funding it with their entire fortune.
Where is Hershey headquartered?
Hershey is headquartered in Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA. The town was built by Milton Hershey to support his chocolate factory and employees. The company has maintained its headquarters there since its founding, with manufacturing facilities in six countries and approximately 18,000 employees worldwide.
How many brands does Hershey own?
Hershey owns approximately 10 major brands across confectionery and salty snacks. The most significant are Hershey's, Reese's, Kit Kat (U.S. license), Jolly Rancher, Twizzlers, Ice Breakers, SkinnyPop, Pirate's Booty, Sour Strips, and LesserEvil. Reese's is the largest brand by retail sales, generating over $2 billion annually.
Who owns Hershey?
The Hershey Company is publicly traded, but the Milton Hershey School Trust holds approximately 80% of voting power through Class B common stock, which carries 10 votes per share versus one vote per share for Class A stock. The trust funds the Milton Hershey School, a private school for children from low-income families. The Hershey Trust Company acts as trustee and exercises the trust's voting rights, giving it effective control of the company.
What is Hershey's revenue?
Hershey reported $11.7 billion in consolidated net sales for FY2025, a 4.4% increase from FY2024. For the first half of FY2026, net sales were $5.9 billion, up 8.7% from the same period in FY2025. The company projects full-year 2026 net sales growth of 4.5% to 5%, with the LesserEvil acquisition contributing approximately 150 basis points.
Has Hershey made major acquisitions recently?
Yes. In November 2025, Hershey acquired LesserEvil, LLC, a producer of organic popcorn and puffed snacks, for an undisclosed sum. In November 2024, the company acquired the Sour Strips brand from Actual Candy, LLC. In May 2023, Hershey acquired manufacturing assets from Weaver Popcorn Manufacturing to strengthen its SkinnyPop supply chain. The company's largest acquisition was Amplify Snack Brands (SkinnyPop) in 2014 for approximately $1.6 billion.
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conagra Brands | USA | 1965 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Hershey | USA | 1987 | Mass market | United states | All Genders |
Food BeverageOwned by Conagra Brands, Inc.
The popcorn brand of Conagra Brands, the leading US gourmet and microwave popcorn name founded by Orville Redenbacher.
Food BeverageOwned by The Hershey Company
The baked rice-and-corn puff snack Hershey picked up in the 2017 Amplify Snack Brands acquisition.
Market Positioning: SkinnyPop competes with 2 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by The Hershey Company, giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.
Food BeverageOwned by Mars, Incorporated
Candy-coated chocolate confections produced by Mars, Incorporated, one of the world's best-selling candy brands since 1941.
M&M's is privately owned, unlike SkinnyPop which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Food BeverageOwned by Mars, Incorporated
Kellogg-created breakfast bar and cereal brand dating to 1976, owned by Mars, Incorporated through Kellanova since December 2025.
Nutri-Grain is privately owned, unlike SkinnyPop which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Food BeverageOwned by Mars, Incorporated
American brand of toaster pastries filled with various flavors, now owned by Mars, Incorporated through the Kellanova acquisition.
Pop-Tarts is privately owned, unlike SkinnyPop which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Food BeverageOwned by Barilla Group
Italian pasta and food brand owned by Barilla Group, a leading global pasta and sauce manufacturer.
Barilla is privately owned, unlike SkinnyPop which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Food BeverageOwned by Brakebush Brothers, Inc.
Foodservice chicken brand of Brakebush Brothers, the Westfield, Wisconsin processor acquired by Hormel Foods for $1.06 billion in 2026.
Brakebush is privately owned, unlike SkinnyPop which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Food BeverageOwned by Mars, Incorporated
British chocolate assortment brand featuring a variety of chocolate candies, owned by Mars, Incorporated and distributed globally.
Celebrations is privately owned, unlike SkinnyPop which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Discover popular brands and companies in the Food & Beverage category and related searches from other users.

American lemon-lime flavored carbonated soft drink brand known for its crisp, clean taste and caffeine-free formula.

Probiotic yogurt brand owned by Danone SA, sold in more than 70 countries. Activia is positioned as a digestive health product and is one of Danone's highest-revenue dairy brands globally.

British chocolate brand known for its distinctive aerated, bubbly texture, produced and distributed by Nestle and sold primarily in the United Kingdom, Canada, and select international markets.