Sweet Deal: Hershey Adds To Candy Business

Hershey Foods Corp. said it will buy Leaf Inc.’s North American candy business for $440 million in cash plus royalties, helping it expand beyond chocolates with such goodies as Jolly Rancher and Good & Plenty.

In return, Leaf’s parent company, Finnish food maker Huhtamaki Oy, will buy Hershey’s European candymaking operations for $110 million. Hershey, though, will still sell some of its candies in Europe.

Leaf’s stable of candies includes Milk Duds and Heath bars.