189: How Hershey’s is Putting the Sweet and Salty in Product Innovation

In this episode of the Innovation Storytellers Show, I sit down with Charlie Chappell, Vice President of Innovation, Research & Development at The Hershey Company, to explore what it takes to innovate in one of the world’s most beloved brands. Charlie’s journey is nothing short of fascinating, from his start in R&D at Kimberly-Clark, earning patents for his work, to shaping iconic brands like Pantene and Old Spice during his time at Procter & Gamble. Now at Hershey, he’s leading the charge to bring bold new ideas to life. Charlie opens up about the joys and challenges of innovating in the food and beverage industry, particularly in confectionery. We talk about the creation of Shackalicious, a gummy line launched in collaboration with Shaquille O’Neal, and how Hershey partnered with Shaq to bring his larger-than-life personality into a product that’s flying off the shelves. Charlie also dives into the innovator’s dilemma—how to embrace change, take risks, and adapt without losing sight of what makes a brand iconic. This conversation is packed with insights on navigating trends, identifying what’s meaningful versus fleeting, and having the courage to push boundaries—even when it means some ideas won’t work out. If you’re curious about how legacy brands like Hershey stay ahead of the curve and continue to bring joy to millions, this episode is for you. Tune in for a sweet discussion filled with inspiration, lessons, and plenty of chocolate. Let’s innovate together!  

Om Podcasten

Did you ever wonder how an innovation got to its finish line? How innovators saw the future, made a product, and created change – in our world and in their companies? I did. Innovation Storytellers invites changemakers to describe how they created their innovation and just as important – THE STORIES – that made us fall in love with them. Come learn how great innovations need great stories to make them move around the world and how to become a better storyteller in the process. I’m Susan Lindner, the Innovation Storyteller. But I wasn’t always. I’ve been a wannabe revolutionary, an epidemiologist at the CDC and an AIDS educator in the brothels of Thailand helping to turn former sex workers into entrepreneurs. Trained as an anthropologist and the Founder of Emerging Media, I’ve spent the last twenty years working with innovators from 60+ countries. Ranging from cutting edge startups to Fortune 100 companies like GE, Corning, Citi, Olayan, and nine foreign governments, helping their leaders to tell their stories and teaching them how to become incredible advocates for their innovations. Great innovation stories make change possible. They let us step into a future we can’t see yet. I started this podcast to shine a light on our generation of great innovators, to learn how they brought their innovation to life and the stories they told to bring them to the world.