Hershey's Jolly Rancher Hard Candy Grabs peta2 Award

Maker of Mouthwatering Candy Given Top Honor in Annual Libby Awards 

For Immediate Release:
February 23, 2010

Contact:
Rachel Owen 757-622-7382

Hershey, Pa. -- The Hershey Company's Jolly Rancher Hard Candy has won the Libby Award for Best Vegan Candy from peta2, the world's largest youth animal rights organization. The fourth annual Libby Awards ("Libby" is short for "liberation") honor animal-friendly people and products. Visitors to peta2.com helped the group determine the winners by voting for their favorites in each category.

The Jolly Rancher Candy Company originally made ice cream, chocolate, and hard candy. As hard candy became more popular, the company decided to focus on developing its "Famous for Flavor" line of vegan hard candies--which is good news for cows who are abused on factory farms.

"It's reassuring to know that The Hershey Company offers products such as Jolly Rancher Hard Candy that are as good to animals as they are to your taste buds," says peta2 Director Dan Shannon. "We at peta2 are proud to recognize this progressive business."

Jolly Rancher Hard Candy won out over Laffy Taffy, Giant Chewy Nerds, and strawberry Twizzlers. (Twizzlers are also made by The Hershey Company.)

Thirty-eight Libby Awards were given out this year, recognizing everything from the most animal-friendly athlete and record label to the most animal-friendly band and clothing company. Winners will receive plaques and will be featured on peta2.com.

For more about the Libby Awards and to read about all of this year's winners, please visit peta2.com.