Starbucks, Hershey to offer coffee-flavored products

SEATTLE — Starbucks Corp., which has a bittersweet history mixing its coffee with chocolate, is trying again, this time with Hershey Co.

The world’s largest specialty coffee retailer said Thursday it will begin offering Starbucks-branded coffee-flavored chocolate products in the fall under a deal with Hershey, which has been struggling to revive flat sales.

Executives with both companies said they’re eager to respond to customers’ growing demand for premium chocolate.

“We’ve found that today consumers are looking, especially in the premium area, for different kinds of indulgences,” said Tom Hernquist, a senior vice president and global chief growth officer at Hershey, the nation’s largest candymaker. He noted that coffee-flavored chocolate treats have proved particularly popular.

The first product slated to hit U.S. grocery, drug store and department store shelves this fall, will be a premium hot chocolate, though Hershey executives would not say whether it will be sold in powder or drink form.

Most other products, including chocolate bars, truffles and chocolate-covered coffee beans, are likely to become available early next year, said Chris Baldwin, president of Hershey’s North American commercial group.

The companies said the new products will also include fruit, nuts, herbs and spices.

Starbucks may sell some of the confections in its stores, but has made no decisions about which ones, said Gerry Lopez, president of Starbucks’ global consumer products group.