UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. 30)*
The Hershey Company
(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock, one dollar ($1.00) par value
(Title of Class of Securities)
427866 10 8
(CUSIP Number)
12/31/08
(Date of Event, Which Requires Filing of this Statement)
Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this
Schedule is filed:
/ / Rule 13d-1(b)
/ / Rule 13d-1(c)
/X / Rule 13d-1(d)
*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting
person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of
securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which
would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be
deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of
that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of
the Act (however, see the Notes).
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this
form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently
valid OMB control number.
SEC 1745 (12-02)
CUSIP No. 427866 10 8
1. NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS.
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (entities only).
Hershey Trust Company
FIN 23-0692150
2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (See Instructions)
(a) / /
(b) / /
3. SEC USE ONLY
4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Pennsylvania
NUMBER OF 5. SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES 714,997 shares of Common Stock
BENEFICIALLY 6. SHARED VOTING POWER
OWNED BY 12,513,321 shares of Common Stock plus
EACH 60,612,012 shares of Class B Common
REPORTING Stock ($1.00 par value) convertible share
PERSON WITH: for share into Common Stock for a total of
73,125,333
7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
536,135 shares of Common Stock
8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
12,692,183 shares of Common Stock plus
60,612,012 shares of Class B Common
Stock ($1.00 par value) convertible share
for share into Common Stock for a total of
73,304,195
9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
13,228,318 shares of Common Stock plus
60,612,012 shares of Class B Common Stock ($1.00 par value)
convertible share for share into Common Stock for a total of
73,840,330
10. CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
(See Instructions)
11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
8.0% (13,228,318 of 166,324,163 outstanding)
32.5% (73,840,330 of 227,035,071 outstanding pursuant to Rule
13d-3(d)(1))
12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (See Instructions)
CO
Item 1(a) NAME OF ISSUER:
The Hershey Company
(b) ADDRESS OF ISSUER'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES:
P.O. Box 810, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033
Item 2(a) NAME OF PERSON FILING:
Hershey Trust Company
(b) ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OFFICE, OR, IF NONE,
RESIDENCE:
100 Mansion Road East, P.O. Box 445, Hershey,
Pennsylvania 17033
(c) CITIZENSHIP:
Pennsylvania Trust Company
(d) TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES:
Common Stock, one dollar ($1.00) par value
(e) CUSIP NUMBER:
427866 10 8
Item 3.
Not applicable.
Item 4. OWNERSHIP:
The following information is provided as of December 31, 2008:
(a) AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED:
13,228,318 shares of Common Stock plus
60,612,012 shares of Class B Common Stock ($1.00
par value) convertible share for share into Common
Stock for a total of 73,840,330
(b) PERCENT OF CLASS:
8.0% (13,228,318 of 166,324,163 outstanding);
32.5% (73,840,330 of 227,035,071 outstanding
pursuant to Rule 13d-3(d)(1))
(c) NUMBER OF SHARES AS TO WHICH THE PERSON HAS:
(i) SOLE POWER TO VOTE OR TO DIRECT THE VOTE:
714,997 shares of Common Stock
(ii) SHARED POWER TO VOTE OR TO DIRECT THE VOTE:
12,513,321 shares of Common Stock plus
60,612,012 shares of Class B Common Stock ($1.00
par value) convertible share for share into
Common Stock for a total of 73,125,333
(iii) SOLE POWER TO DISPOSE OR TO DIRECT THE DISPOSITION
OF:
536,135 shares of Common Stock
(iv) SHARED POWER TO DISPOSE OR TO DIRECT THE DISPOSITION
OF:
12,692,183 shares of Common Stock plus
60,612,012 shares of Class B Common Stock ($1.00
par value) convertible share for share into
Common Stock for a total of 73,304,195
Item 5. OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS
If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of
the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the
beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of
securities, check the follow / /.
Not applicable.
Item 6. OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER
PERSON.
Of the 73,840,330 shares (13,228,318 Common shares and
60,612,012 Class B shares) listed in response to Item 4(a),
Hershey Trust Company holds 73,451,330 shares
(12,839,318 Common shares and 60,612,012 Class B shares) in
its capacity as institutional fiduciary for 104 estates and
trusts, including 73,125,333 shares (12,513,321 Common shares
and 60,612,012 Class B shares) held as trustee for Milton
Hershey School. All outstanding shares of Hershey Trust
Company are owned by Hershey Trust Company, Trustee in Trust
for Milton Hershey School. As of December 31, 2008, all of
the nine members of the Board of Directors of Hershey Trust
Company were members of the Board of Managers of Milton
Hershey School, which is the governing body of Milton Hershey
School.
Item 7. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH
ACQUIRED THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING
COMPANY
Not Applicable.
Item 8. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP
Not applicable.
Item 9. NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP
Not applicable.
Item 10. CERTIFICATION
BY SIGNING BELOW I CERTIFY THAT, TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE
AND BELIEF, THE SECURITIES REFERRED TO ABOVE WERE NOT
ACQUIRED AND ARE NOT HELD FOR THE PURPOSE OF OR WITH THE
EFFECT OF CHANGING OR INFLUENCING THE CONTROL OF THE ISSUER
OF THE SECURITIES AND WERE NOT ACQUIRED AND ARE NOT HELD IN
CONNECTION WITH OR AS A PARTICIPANT IN ANY TRANSACTION HAVING
THAT PURPOSE OR EFFECT.
SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and
belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is
true, complete and correct.
Date: January 16, 2009
/s/ Robert M. Reese
Robert M. Reese, President
HERSHEY TRUST COMPANY