Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
There are a lot of different stories about why Hershey’s Kisses are called kisses. Some sources have argued that the name referenced the lip-smacking noise Hershey’s machinery made when it touched the conveyor belt. Others said it was from the “puckering” motion the chocolate extruder made during the manufacturing process. But the story behind the name may actually be a lot simpler. This is why Hershey's Kisses are (probably) called kisses, and how Hershey was able to turn a generic term for a small candy into an incredibly valuable trademark.
Sources:
“Special Candy Sale,” Bangor Daily Commercial, Jan 2, 1897
“Candies,” Wilkes-Barre Record, Oct 22, 1898
Kanzler Bakery ad, The Star, Feb 24, 1899
“Kisses. Kisses. Kisses,” The Bangor Daily News, Nov 3, 1899
Trademark Registration by Henry Jensen for J. B. Golden Nuggets Brand Candy Kisses, Mar 12, 1901, Library of Congress
“Christmas at Hunt Bros.’ Store,” Bridgeton Evening News, Dec 19, 1902
“Hoff’s Confectionary,” The Daily Argus, Dec 23, 1902
“Candy Specials,” Allentown Morning Call, May 2, 1903
Trademark Registration by The Robert F. Mackenzie Co. for "Sunbeam's" Brand Molasses Taffy Candy Kisses, Library of Congress, Nov 3, 1903
Trademark Registration by Wilder & Buchanan for Georgia Cane Brand Candy Kisses, Library of Congress, Feb 23, 1904
“Chocolate Kisses,” Toledo Weekly Blade, Jun 2, 1904
“Kisses,” The Burlington Free Press, Mar 21, 1905
“Chocolate Kisses,” One Hundred & One Candies, May E. Southworth, 1906
“Saturday Candy,” The Barre Daily Times, Mar 3, 1906
“Sweetheart Kisses,” Sweet Candy Company photo, Utah Department of Cultural and Community Engagement
“Chocolate ‘Kiss’ Foil Wrapping Machine, Patented,” Ad, The International Confectioner, 1922
Hershey’s Kisses, U.S. Trademark Registration No. 165248, Registered Mar 6, 1923, USPTO
Hershey Milk Chocolate Kisses, U.S. Trademark Registration No. 165247, Registered Mar 6, 1923, USPTO
“Trademark Notice,” Brooklyn Eagle, Dec 6, 1949
Brach’s Swedish Kisses, U.S. Trademark Registration No. 553715, Registered Jan 22, 1952, USPTO
“Kisses to Remember” Jolly Rancher billboard photo, 1960-1953, History Colorado
“Clark Peanut Blossom Kisses,” D.L. Clark Company photograph, ca. 1970-1980, Detre Library & Archives, Heinz History Center
“Hershey’s Suit Startles London’s,” Stu Feldstein, Akron Beacon Journal, Sep 2, 1977
“Others Stealing Hershey’s Kiss?” The Macon News, Nov 29, 1977
“Hershey Kisses Reach 80,” Kelly Mayer, Leader Staff Writer, Oakdale Leader, Jul 22, 1987
“Update on Kiss History,” Memo from Hershey Community Archives to Hershey Foods, Jan 29, 1991
“Candy Firms Pucker Up in Quarrel Over Kisses,” Kenneth R. Clark, Chicago Tribune via The Evening News, Dec 19, 1994
Almond Kisses, U.S. Trademark Registration No. 2014633, registered Nov 12, 1996, USPTO
“Good Days,” Pam Cassidy and Deborah Wescott, Hershey Hotline, 1998
Re: Homestead, TTAB records, 1996-2001, USPTO
“Applicant’s Reply Brief,” Re: Homestead, TTAB, Feb 1, 1999, USPTO
Kisses, U.S. Trademark Registration No. 2416701, Registered Jan 2, 2001, USPTO
“Kissed by Sweet Success,” Terri Jo Raym, Cox News Service via Dayton Daily News, Feb 9, 2007
“Hershey’s: Why a Kiss is Just a Kiss,” Samira Kawash, Candy Professor, Mar 3, 2010, candyprofessor.wordpress.com/2010/03/03/hersheys-why-a-kiss-is-just-a-kiss
“HersheyArchives@30, Part 18: Only Hershey’s Kisses are Kisses,” Hershey Community Archives, Jul 14, 2015
Kisses, U.S. Trademark Registration No. 6576763, Registered Nov 30, 2021, USPTO
“Hershey Isn’t Sure Why Kisses are Called ‘Kisses’ — But They Have a Theory,” Michael Bartiromo, abc27 News, Feb 1, 2025
“Frequently Asked Questions,” Hersheyland
Additional trademark materials from USPTO
There are a lot of different stories about why Hershey’s Kisses are called kisses. Some sources have argued that the name referenced the lip-smacking noise Hershey’s machinery made when it touched the conveyor belt. Others said it was from the “puckering” motion the chocolate extruder made during the manufacturing process. But the story behind the name may actually be a lot simpler. This is why Hershey's Kisses are (probably) called kisses, and how Hershey was able to turn a generic term for a small candy into an incredibly valuable trademark.
Sources:
“Special Candy Sale,” Bangor Daily Commercial, Jan 2, 1897
“Candies,” Wilkes-Barre Record, Oct 22, 1898
Kanzler Bakery ad, The Star, Feb 24, 1899
“Kisses. Kisses. Kisses,” The Bangor Daily News, Nov 3, 1899
Trademark Registration by Henry Jensen for J. B. Golden Nuggets Brand Candy Kisses, Mar 12, 1901, Library of Congress
“Christmas at Hunt Bros.’ Store,” Bridgeton Evening News, Dec 19, 1902
“Hoff’s Confectionary,” The Daily Argus, Dec 23, 1902
“Candy Specials,” Allentown Morning Call, May 2, 1903
Trademark Registration by The Robert F. Mackenzie Co. for "Sunbeam's" Brand Molasses Taffy Candy Kisses, Library of Congress, Nov 3, 1903
Trademark Registration by Wilder & Buchanan for Georgia Cane Brand Candy Kisses, Library of Congress, Feb 23, 1904
“Chocolate Kisses,” Toledo Weekly Blade, Jun 2, 1904
“Kisses,” The Burlington Free Press, Mar 21, 1905
“Chocolate Kisses,” One Hundred & One Candies, May E. Southworth, 1906
“Saturday Candy,” The Barre Daily Times, Mar 3, 1906
“Sweetheart Kisses,” Sweet Candy Company photo, Utah Department of Cultural and Community Engagement
“Chocolate ‘Kiss’ Foil Wrapping Machine, Patented,” Ad, The International Confectioner, 1922
Hershey’s Kisses, U.S. Trademark Registration No. 165248, Registered Mar 6, 1923, USPTO
Hershey Milk Chocolate Kisses, U.S. Trademark Registration No. 165247, Registered Mar 6, 1923, USPTO
“Trademark Notice,” Brooklyn Eagle, Dec 6, 1949
Brach’s Swedish Kisses, U.S. Trademark Registration No. 553715, Registered Jan 22, 1952, USPTO
“Kisses to Remember” Jolly Rancher billboard photo, 1960-1953, History Colorado
“Clark Peanut Blossom Kisses,” D.L. Clark Company photograph, ca. 1970-1980, Detre Library & Archives, Heinz History Center
“Hershey’s Suit Startles London’s,” Stu Feldstein, Akron Beacon Journal, Sep 2, 1977
“Others Stealing Hershey’s Kiss?” The Macon News, Nov 29, 1977
“Hershey Kisses Reach 80,” Kelly Mayer, Leader Staff Writer, Oakdale Leader, Jul 22, 1987
“Update on Kiss History,” Memo from Hershey Community Archives to Hershey Foods, Jan 29, 1991
“Candy Firms Pucker Up in Quarrel Over Kisses,” Kenneth R. Clark, Chicago Tribune via The Evening News, Dec 19, 1994
Almond Kisses, U.S. Trademark Registration No. 2014633, registered Nov 12, 1996, USPTO
“Good Days,” Pam Cassidy and Deborah Wescott, Hershey Hotline, 1998
Re: Homestead, TTAB records, 1996-2001, USPTO
“Applicant’s Reply Brief,” Re: Homestead, TTAB, Feb 1, 1999, USPTO
Kisses, U.S. Trademark Registration No. 2416701, Registered Jan 2, 2001, USPTO
“Kissed by Sweet Success,” Terri Jo Raym, Cox News Service via Dayton Daily News, Feb 9, 2007
“Hershey’s: Why a Kiss is Just a Kiss,” Samira Kawash, Candy Professor, Mar 3, 2010, candyprofessor.wordpress.com/2010/03/03/hersheys-why-a-kiss-is-just-a-kiss
“HersheyArchives@30, Part 18: Only Hershey’s Kisses are Kisses,” Hershey Community Archives, Jul 14, 2015
Kisses, U.S. Trademark Registration No. 6576763, Registered Nov 30, 2021, USPTO
“Hershey Isn’t Sure Why Kisses are Called ‘Kisses’ — But They Have a Theory,” Michael Bartiromo, abc27 News, Feb 1, 2025
“Frequently Asked Questions,” Hersheyland
Additional trademark materials from USPTO
