Document Type
Honors Thesis
Abstract
From the early Americas to the chocolate houses of Europe, chocolate has a long history of being exclusive and expensive. This analysis will show how Milton Hershey and Forrest Mars changed the chocolate industry making it accessible to all, regardless of income. Both these giants got their start during the turn of the turn of the 19th century, a time of industrialization, innovation, and the rise of consumerism. The economic structures of the time allowed for both of these men to build their business into household names. Milton and Forrest’s early lives shaped who they were and how they did business; in turn this shaped the chocolate and candy industry. Hershey was a very paternalistic leader, he had very old fashioned ideals, reminiscent of the mercantilism era. Much of his principles were shaped by his mother and the mennonite community: having a simple life, not having personal riches, and giving back to the community around you. Mars was an authoritarian manager, he was very strict and insistent on using the most efficient methods no matter the cost of implementation. He evoked the ideals of capitalism, championing individualism and monetary growth. By examining the founders of the Hershey and Mars empires this analysis will show where chocolate came from, how capitalism shaped the industry, how Hershey and Mars became household names, and who the founders are behind the industry leading brands.
Repository Citation
Lutz, Jasmine, "Hershey vs Mars: The Rise of Chocolate in America" (2026). Honors Theses - Providence Campus. 78.
https://scholarsarchive.jwu.edu/student_scholarship/78
