The Hershey Company (Hershey’s), the largest chocolate company in the US with a 33.5% market share , ranks 6 out of 60 companies. Compared to 2020, the company improved its rank by disclosing more information about the risks identified through its due diligence process and some data on its supply chain workforce, updating its supplier code to include the Employer Pays Principle and the prevention of worker-paid recruitment fees, disclosing capacity building on responsible recruitment, and providing examples of remediation (including relating to recruitment fee remediation). The company’s score is based on its stronger performance on the themes of Commitment & Governance, Traceability & Risk Assessment, Recruitment, Worker Voice and Remedy. Notably, the company is the second-highest scoring North American company in the benchmark and is among the highest scorers on the theme of Traceability & Risk Assessment.
KnowTheChain identified one additional allegation of forced labor in the company’s supply chains. The company did not disclose engagement with affected stakeholders, nor remedy outcomes for workers. The company is encouraged to strengthen its disclosure and practices on the themes of Purchasing Practices, Worker Voice and Monitoring