The Hershey Company welcomed Shannon Miller, the iconic American gymnast and Olympic gold medalist, to be part of the family. Presenting the Hershey's as its ambassador, Miller who will be joining the other American athletes in Rio 2016 Olympic Games, said that she's proud of the opportunity was given.
The 7-time Olympic medalist recalls Hershey as 'a company that epitomizes the American dream'. The official sponsor of USA Gymnastics is well-known for its nationwide iconic chocolate bar. During the company's press release, Miller stated, "Together, we can spread a passion for the sport and celebrate our patriotic pride with athletes, fans and consumers around the country." Miller is chosen due to her history as the most decorated American Gymnast. She earned 59 international competition medals and won 49 in national competitions. The records have rewarded her with US Olympic Hall of Fame.
Hershey's Senior Brand Manager, Stacie Stauffer, thinks of this partnership as a celebration to the company's excitement to support Team USA. With the deal in hand, Miller as a gymnast legend along with the USA team may be able to boost the company's brand awareness.
In February 2016, Hershey released its new campaign, "Hello Happy. Hello, Hershey's." Miller and the US Olympic Committee will be using the campaign on highlights such as media releases and special events.
Hershey will be the official sponsor of 2016 Pacific Rim Gymnastics Championships and 2016 Kellogg's Tour of Gymnastics Champions. The company will also support the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games, The global confectionary leader drives more than $7 billion of annual revenues from it's 80 brands including America's favorite candies Hershey's Kisses, Hershey's Reeses's and Ice Breakers. Hershey's recent net sales published were seen as a decline that made the company shift its focus to snack items such as Snack Bites, Reese's Snack Mix and Brookside bars to boost its sales performance.
