Hershey Foods (HSY)

How are proxy solicitation and other required annual meeting materials distributed?

The Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, has adopted rules that allow us to mail a notice to our stockholders advising that our proxy statement, annual report to stockholders, electronic proxy card and related materials are available for viewing, free of charge, on the Internet. Stockholders may then access these materials and vote over the Internet or request delivery of a full set of materials by mail or email. We have elected to utilize this process for the 2009 annual meeting. We intend to begin mailing the required notice, called Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, to stockholders on or about March 16, 2009. The proxy materials will be posted on the Internet, at www.proxyvote.com, no later than the day we begin mailing the Notice. If you receive a Notice, you will not receive a paper or email copy of the proxy materials unless you request one in the manner set forth in the Notice.

The Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials contains important information, including:

These rules give us the opportunity to serve you more efficiently by making the proxy materials available quickly online and reducing costs associated with printing and postage.

How are proxy solicitation and other required annual meeting materials distributed?

The Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, recently adopted rules that allow us to change the way we make our proxy statement and other annual meeting materials available to you. The rules require that we mail a notice to our stockholders advising that our proxy statement, annual report to stockholders, electronic proxy card and related materials are available for viewing, free of charge, on the Internet. Stockholders may then access these materials and vote over the Internet or request delivery of a full set of materials by mail or email. We have elected to utilize this new process for the 2008 annual meeting. We intend to begin mailing the required notice, called Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, to stockholders on or about March 10, 2008. The proxy materials will be posted on the Internet, at www.proxyvote.com, no later than the day we begin mailing the Notice. If you receive a Notice, you will not receive a paper or email copy of the proxy materials unless you request one in the manner set forth in the Notice.

The Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials contains important information, including:

These new rules give us the opportunity to serve you more efficiently by making the proxy materials available quickly online and reducing costs associated with printing and postage.

How are proxy solicitation and other required annual meeting materials distributed?

We generally distribute these materials by mail. However, we also are permitted to distribute these materials electronically over the Internet to stockholders who consent to receive the materials in this manner.

When you receive these materials over the Internet, you help us save money because our printing and postage expenses are reduced. Instead of receiving a bulky mailing, you will receive an email

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message notifying you that the materials are available for viewing online. In addition, when you are ready to vote, you may submit your voting instructions online.

To enroll for electronic delivery and proxy voting, please go to our website, www.hersheys.com, and select the “Investor Relations” tab located on the left-hand column of our homepage. When the Investor Relations homepage appears, select the “Online Proxy/Voting” tab located along the left-hand column of the page and follow the instructions. If you do not enroll for electronic delivery, you will continue to receive these materials in the mail.