John H. Dowd oral history
Item 91OH33
Interview date: December 4, 1991; Span dates: ca. 1976 - 1991
Scope and content
Dowd discusses his Hershey career picking up in 1976. Recounts creation of the position Vice-president, New Business Development. Dowd outlines the Company's aggressive leadership and marketing strategies, new product development, test market research, and various product successes and failures including: Kit Kat, Kiss variations, Skor, and Hershey-ets. A large portion of the interview covers the phenonmenal marketing success of Reese's Pieces and its tie to the movie "E.T." Also, corporate acquisitions by Hershey Foods and the licensing of the Hershey name.