The Hershey Company is a producer of chocolate in North America and sugar confectionery products. The Company�s principal product groups include chocolate and sugar confectionery products; pantry items, such as baking ingredients, toppings and beverages, and gum and mint refreshment products. It operates as a single segment in manufacturing, marketing, selling and distributing the products under more than 80 brand names. Its three operating segments consist of geographic regions, including the United States, the Americas, and Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The Company markets its products in approximately 70 countries worldwide. In February 2011, the Company acquired a 49% interest in Tri-Us, Inc. a company that manufactures, markets and sells nutritional beverages under the mix1 brand name. In January 2012, the Company acquired all of the outstanding stock of Brookside Foods Ltd. (Brookside).