Hershey Company Appoints Mitchell Arends as New Chief Supply Chain Officer

Mitchell Arends Appointed Chief Supply Chain Officer of Hershey Company

In a significant leadership transition, The Hershey Company has announced that Mitch Arends will step into the role of Chief Supply Chain Officer, effective June 22, 2026. Arends takes over from Jason Reiman, a veteran of the company who is retiring after a commendable 30-year service. To ensure continuity, Reiman will remain with the company until April 2027, aiding in a structured transition.

Mitch Arends comes to Hershey with over 25 years of extensive experience in supply chain management within the consumer-packaged goods sector. Before joining Hershey, he was with UTZ Brands, where he held the position of Executive Vice President, Principal Operating Officer, and Chief Integrated Supply Chain Officer. In that capacity, Arends managed a $1.5 billion business encompassing diverse operations such as supply chain management, research and development, transformation, and direct store delivery.

Prior to his role at UTZ, he served as Chief Supply Chain Officer for North America at Kraft Heinz, where he oversaw an impressive $22 billion supply chain that included manufacturing, logistics, planning, and procurement operations. His impressive track record and people-centric approach directly align with the strategic goals of Hershey’s supply chain.

Kirk Tanner, the President and CEO of The Hershey Company, expressed confidence in Arends' capabilities, stating, "Mitch is a proven transformational leader with the end-to-end mindset, track record, and people-first approach that will continue to drive Hershey's supply chain forward. His complex operational experience in the CPG industry makes him well-suited to build upon the robust foundation established by Jason."

During his tenure, Jason Reiman made profound contributions to the company, transforming it from the ground up, including the implementation of two fully digitally integrated manufacturing facilities and establishing an insourced salty snacks network that is currently 80% operationally self-sufficient.

Reflecting on his new role, Mitch Arends stated, "The opportunity to continue building a supply chain for some of the world's most iconic products is an exciting moment in my career. I aim to do this while focusing on talent development and strengthening the communities where we operate. Building a future-ready supply chain transcends technology and optimization; it requires nurturing the talent that will sustain these transformations long after any single initiative is complete."

Jason Reiman remarked on his pride in passing the leadership baton to Arends, saying, "I am proud to hand this baton to Mitch. He possesses the vision, experience, and values that will forge ahead with our work and uphold the legacy of Milton Hershey." Reiman expressed deep gratitude for his time at Hershey and the commitment to its values that have guided his career.

Hershey, a leader in the snacks industry, is committed to making moments of goodness and aims to be at the forefront of the next generation of snacking. The company operates with over 20,000 employees worldwide and has an expansive portfolio of over 85 brands that generate more than $11.7 billion in annual revenues across approximately 65 countries. Hershey’s product offerings span categories, including beloved confectionary items like Hershey's Chocolate, Reese's, Kisses, and KIT KAT®, as well as popular salty snack brands like SkinnyPop and Pirate's Booty.

Founded in 1894 by Milton Hershey, the company maintains a commitment to ethical and sustainable operations, exemplified by their philanthropic initiatives such as the Milton Hershey School, founded in 1909. The company's values continue to resonate today as they work towards providing equitable education access for children.

To learn more about The Hershey Company and its upcoming initiatives, visit www.thehersheycompany.com.