Hershey's to Sponsor Consumer Testing Lab

US confectionery giant Hershey's is joining forces with the Harrisburg University of Science and Technology to develop a sensory science and consumer research program including a consumer taste test laboratory.

Hershey's will give the university $90,000 to equip the lab and cover other start-up costs during the program's first two years.

Consumer insights obtained from the lab's research will guide product development and the results will be integrated with sensory testing conducted at Hershey's Technical Center in Hershey, Pa, where professional sensory panels and employee panels provide feedback that guides ongoing new product development.

'Having broad consumer input improves our ability to innovate as we develop the best-tasting and most appealing chocolate and sugar confectionery products on the market,' states Dan Azzara, SVP, Global Research & Development at The Hershey Company. 'This will be an exciting partnership that will keep us closely connected with consumers and influence future products as we develop innovative new forms to meet the needs of consumers.'

Dr Eric Darr, the university's VP and Provost, thanked Hershey's for its support, adding that the research will not only benefit the firm's innovation work, but will also give students the opportunity to gain practical experience that will prepare them for science and technology jobs.

Web sites: www.hersheys.com and www.harrisburgu.edu .