Introduction to Milton Hershey
Milton Hershey, born in 1857 to poor farmer parents in Pennsylvania, faced early financial struggles and two failed attempts to open a successful candy store. After being turned down for a loan by his uncles, he went on to create the largest chocolate manufacturer in the world, making chocolate affordable for the masses.
Early Life and Career
Milton Hershey’s life took a turn when his sister Serena died of scarlet fever at age four, prompting him to strive for a better life. At 10, he decided to make a better living for himself and his mother. He dropped out of school and at 14, landed an apprenticeship with a local printer, starting his journey towards a better life. He later worked at a confectionary owned by Joseph Royer, where he was introduced to the candy business and learned about traditional and experimental methods of creating candies.
The Candy Business
Milton spent four years learning the candy business from Mr. Royer in Chicago and Colorado, gaining confidence in his knowledge and expertise. With his mother’s agreement, he decided to open his own shop, but lacked sufficient funds. His aunt and uncles loaned him $100, enabling him to start a business at the age of 19. He opened his first confectionary shop in Philadelphia, offering a variety of candies, ice creams, fruits, and nuts.
Financial Struggles and Success
Milton’s candy shop initially stood out and flourished, but his business faced significant challenges with the end of the Trade Fair and the start of the Depression, leading to plummeting sales. He managed to stay afloat by selling at wholesale prices, but the rising cost of sugar and subsequent financial struggles forced him to borrow loans, ultimately leading to his illness and bedridden state. After joining his father in Colorado and later working at a candy store in Denver, Milton learned a unique caramel-making process and planned to open a new shop in a competitive location.
Rise to Success
Milton Hershey’s life changed after visiting the world’s exposition in Chicago, where he saw J.M. Lehman’s demonstration of chocolate rolling machinery from Germany, proving that chocolate could be mass-produced and made affordable. Hershey bought Lehman’s equipment and began experimenting with manufacturing chocolate and cocoa products in Lancaster, eventually incorporating the Hershey Chocolate Company and using fresh milk in his recipes, which became a huge success. He sold his caramel business for $1 million and focused on chocolate, building a massive factory with high-tech machinery and sending trusted employees to work for competitors to learn their mass milk chocolate production methods.
Mass Production and Innovation
Milton Hershey had mastered the chocolate-making process, but faced problems in Lancaster due to rising corruption, leading him to move and develop a new town. Despite his progress, he struggled to mass-produce milk chocolate until a former employee, Johnny Schmalbach, discovered a method to warm and condense milk without burning it, creating a mild-tasting milk chocolate. Milton Hershey’s use of condensed milk allowed his chocolate to be stored for months without spoiling, enabling mass production and lower prices.
Legacy and Impact
By 1906, Hershey Chocolate reached $1 million in sales, and the company introduced iconic products like Hershey’s Kisses and chocolate bars with almonds, driving the company to unprecedented success and making millions. Milton Hershey’s chocolate business grew rapidly, and he developed the town of Hershey with modern amenities and entertainment sites. He and his wife established the Hershey Industrial School for poor orphan boys in 1909, which controls 40% of Hershey’s stock, making it one of the wealthiest private schools in the US. Today, the Hershey Company remains one of the biggest chocolate manufacturers in the world with a market cap of over $44 billion.
Key Achievements
- Created the largest chocolate manufacturer in the world
- Made chocolate affordable for the masses
- Introduced iconic products like Hershey’s Kisses and chocolate bars with almonds
- Developed the town of Hershey with modern amenities and entertainment sites
- Established the Hershey Industrial School for poor orphan boys
Key Vocabulary
| Term | Pronunciation | Definition | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprenticeship | /əˈprɛntɪsʃɪp/ | A period of time when someone works for an experienced person to learn a skill or trade. | Milton Hershey started his career with an apprenticeship at a local printer. |
| Confectionary | /kənˈfɛkʃənəri/ | A place where sweets, such as candies and chocolates, are made or sold. | Milton Hershey worked at a confectionary owned by Joseph Royer to learn the candy business. |
| Mass-produced | /mæsˈprɒdjuːst/ | Made in large quantities, usually using machines or assembly lines. | Milton Hershey’s use of chocolate rolling machinery allowed him to mass-produce chocolate. |
| Wholesale | /ˈhəʊlsəl/ | The sale of goods in large quantities to retailers or other businesses. | Milton Hershey sold his candies at wholesale prices to stay afloat during financial struggles. |
| Depression | /dɪˈprɛʃən/ | A period of economic decline, typically characterized by high unemployment and low economic activity. | The start of the Depression led to plummeting sales for Milton Hershey’s candy shop. |
| Exposition | /ˌɛkspəˈzɪʃən/ | A large public exhibition or show, often featuring products, technology, or cultural achievements. | Milton Hershey visited the world’s exposition in Chicago, where he saw J.M. Lehman’s demonstration of chocolate rolling machinery. |
| Corruption | /kəˈrʌpʃən/ | The act of giving or receiving bribes, or engaging in other dishonest or illegal activities, especially by people in power. | Rising corruption in Lancaster led Milton Hershey to move and develop a new town. |
| Condensed milk | /kənˈdɛnst/ | Milk that has been heated to remove some of the water content, resulting in a thick, creamy liquid. | Milton Hershey’s use of condensed milk allowed his chocolate to be stored for months without spoiling. |
| Mass production | /mæsˈprɒdʌkʃən/ | The production of goods in large quantities, often using machines or assembly lines. | Milton Hershey’s introduction of mass production methods enabled him to make chocolate affordable for the masses. |
| Iconic | /aɪˈkɒnɪk/ | Famous or well-known, often representing a particular idea or culture. | Hershey’s Kisses and chocolate bars with almonds are iconic products introduced by Milton Hershey. |
| Legacy | /ˈlɛɡəsi/ | The impact or influence that someone or something has on future generations or events. | Milton Hershey’s legacy includes creating the largest chocolate manufacturer in the world and making chocolate affordable for the masses. |
| Market cap | /ˈmɑːrkɪt kæp/ | The total value of a company’s outstanding shares, often used to measure its size and financial performance. | The Hershey Company has a market cap of over $44 billion, making it one of the largest chocolate manufacturers in the world. |
| Orphan | /ˈɔːrfən/ | A child whose parents are dead or unknown, often requiring care and support from others. | Milton Hershey and his wife established the Hershey Industrial School for poor orphan boys. |
| Scarlet fever | /ˈskɑːrlɪt ˈfiːvər/ | A bacterial infection that causes a bright red rash, often affecting children. | Milton Hershey’s sister Serena died of scarlet fever at the age of four. |
| Trade Fair | /treɪd ˈfɛər/ | An event where businesses and organizations showcase their products and services to potential customers and partners. | The end of the Trade Fair led to significant challenges for Milton Hershey’s candy shop. |
| Unprecedented | /ʌnˈprɛsɪdɛntɪd/ | Never done or seen before, often used to describe a unique or remarkable event or achievement. | Milton Hershey’s success with the Hershey Chocolate Company was unprecedented, making him one of the most successful entrepreneurs of his time. |
| Wealthiest | /ˈwɛlθiɪst/ | Having the most wealth or riches, often used to describe individuals, organizations, or countries with significant financial resources. | The Hershey Industrial School, established by Milton Hershey, is one of the wealthiest private schools in the US. |
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Grammar Focus
Grammar Focus: The Use of the Past Perfect Tense
The past perfect tense is used to describe an action that occurred before another action in the past. It is formed using ‘had’ + the past participle of the verb. For example, ‘Milton Hershey had faced early financial struggles before he created the largest chocolate manufacturer in the world.’ This tense is useful for showing cause and effect or for describing a sequence of events in the past.
