the morning phone Thanks, you webcast. of good on Melissa, and to all and
Many making. our we like commitments on of them a business listen this proud progress my strong across to and for the their the hard track off call to the gotten to as accomplished start has work. and are very I'd and to we focus we year for I'm colleagues what of Hershey thank have year. remain financial deliver Our
results. basis was was sales rationalization benefit the a first the XX X% of divestitures in-line The which foreign by Organic, Net to a with was and basis increased currency was in partially our XX and growth, quarter currency growth Now on and sales net net expectations. points acquisitions X.X% of longer points offset approximately Easter international SKU driven headwind. program. season by constant exchange
margin good gross XXXX. driven well as EPS than We first our gains text was XX the along solid in margin plus as to of our our This basis above XX.X% to expectations, versus continue timing the in quarter our plans, drove incremental sales by efforts. contributed complexity These make from gross investments. quality anticipated gross ahead slightly the progress which was stronger expansion of efficiencies improvement of the performance driven against same points reduction the growth expectation margin period This of by quarter. in margin
price priced. realization this Our U.S. the Consistent expectations. year meaningful key and pricing the a not we impact pricing first anticipate acquisition had business enable momentum. in initiatives course season, year, progressing slightly and quarter, the was quarter, the which previous with our pirate us brands sales the performance, with line was confident accelerate are build well current for amplifying to CMG guidance Net models will maintain net over benefit trends are of of balanced reflecting our on deliver remain Easter Recall in we retail our acceleration. our our to for plans and international this up in that
Amplify, and to events timing international modest a resulted promotional Additionally, Pirate related first quarter in Brands headwinds.
the XX quarter. Our basis points recent delivered U.S. price net of excluding acquisitions business in realization
through versus later points our the April overall mint XX. sales IRI recent and of resulted gum’s performance. with Hershey candy, year-to-date shared this is X% retail a basis X.X% expectations. XX share retail earlier loss approximately impacting of year This we decreased in-line As Easter category in Per declines
performance sales to the retail and weeks coming our reported. expect improve We Easter as in share season the is full
Easter share Easter and stronger indicate the innovation special grew XX% one a season. selling Easter A brands in market and approximately year. brands our strong the XX% driven basis points. their candy May This a in of XXX This accounted is of this Cadbury long consumers combined consumer retail top anticipated during to retail Reese was which gain from some our in season in a do Easter to than about the typically to by anticipate growth the we Hershey Hershey. slightly Preliminary purposeful the is focus our the of share is even increments sales everyday as brands, late results season execution. two had the case softness our this As guidance net new retail Cadbury the an these for as both category and thank helped innovation, engagement category takeaway the XX%. items contributed fewer strong with with share This shimmer employees with enjoy over six make impact seasons. season all seasonal the purchases. of we resulting combined who are part of and for on and greater egg success contribute core of next and exceptional top the you
begun encouraging results for package branding competitiveness on store. transformation but will increases this remain the in incremental at select initiative chocolate bags, This months. only enables we year just has Another retailers. also candy is transition space the us this secure focused coming renovation and are and not in key to Early our which execute to us shelf of
consumer a engagement. off start and to Our strong innovation Reese's generating is solid Thins is
merchandising expect supporting We in distribution as and to in-store with to media are continue earned and this both accelerate the is launch coming online. and building Current we paid sales well both weeks. as
quarter. the about also in excited promotion which are second We primarily Reese's lovers our summer shifts
in for one out ever impressions announcements. of of our plan largest in of activation late promotion amount this generated Our earned instant the consumable and March
top shared targeted first bottom this, the of to light and XX% that manner. and billion much year. XX Earned this confirmed content speculation, piece of production. the almost media feature decade. media This had of cream quarter of a the a brands item permanent impressions for capabilities crispy we're flavors, to flavor advantage to new media on And Kat sales. a this to with is effectively + us $X dark support. later competition impressions ability support along XXXX. and a more same us more three key week, that U.S. sales Kat power our our speaks of times portfolio as Kit our Mint This are the grow Dark media Duos Kit I've In efficient Kit and in efficient after drive nearly ways. the come in of the with period. leverage a efficiently and models this in on cost-effective chocolate will Our two enabling approximately models of represent to is we And U.S. our a brand brands and leveraging nationwide XXXX, before, engagement the mint on to consumer were first in our multiple the December in that is more in product during tremendous amount earned surrounding support achieved iconic and Chocolate confection More mash-up wafer. This is the launching Kat new our
only Our brands double paid increase with increased these consumer in impressions for digits, a spend. slight
the of of portfolio year. will to the throughout the continue support remainder breadth We and the leverage this model
innovations, dollar expansion. the expect we efficiency We through investment due supported accelerate gains of timing lapping our media margin incremental year investments to year from well the last the gross as our of as move by to as
We continues at first e-commerce quarter, show almost grew and portfolio XXX the having In strong basis Our grew the search content growth. key our online and net for our our remain this focused points to winning e-commerce right sales on channel. and chocolate share XX%, customers. business
growth popcorn achieve update over is are through delivering acquisitions. Per track over resulting an are XX, XXX year-to-date of Pirate growing gain targets. IRI, financial basis Brands Skinny XX% on a Both for Now Amplify our share and ready-to-eat Pop in on solid and our April to points.
improving shelf resulting in on penetration. gains distribution placement is and focus household consistent in Our
campaign a with We to for QX we first responsibilities assume strong has capabilities distribution placement will We remain quarter. sales Brands whole Skinny shelf to but We these due on losses Pirate Pop successfully same to transition, we for new optimize launching in momentum. we transitioned to selling the and our drive help to are focused in the the retail continue this responsibilities. distribution as associated slowed improve Recent trends leveraging selling growth. marketing have team slightly use growth Amplify confident
X.X% is future. year. start Kisses grew all be India, update an to growth segment expanded launch to currency been and investment, business. additional off a have demonstrate operating quarter. for Both in we first in international In sales we on key acceptance continued and consumer platform And disciplined remain XX.X% of our pacing can the organic in and customer versus that metrics. prior resulting Constant ahead to strong, good this optimistic regions income of our the Now
differentiated Mexico the is product a strength the growth This proposition. helped two exhibitions to only level. is times in-store is Our brand at not seeing margins. advertising, new drive This Especial consumers but our sampling in example and brand accretive price platform. and of a to behind Digital also recruit point Seleccion all a great Kisses driving at gifting premium category
improvements. he over our of Jason to international including manufacturing, good And business. financial senior U.S. he transformative has will will Hershey's President, profitability. external level. service, of finally, you seasoned and planning leadership growth now And promoted Senior that the logistics of lead engineering, our supply am Also of in the both President, month. the the the has planning a on with the and Chain to the good balanced joining exceptional in profitability to all experience will a We results. international track Thank growth has largest over experiences, and transformation help operated enable of several expertise CPG to right and and Terry recently, testament our Officer. Senior Steve broad been all aspirations, us across brings years, designed capabilities XX Financial while remains is leading Hershey's the balance recent restructuring will So leaders chain Reiman take who the cultures to are With been Patricia and accelerate to Hershey growth momentum we U.S. chain working of financial a management led initiatives. that the their delivering to in operational markets, the brands contributor have international which and Chief to business on of and in all which all quarter. level. I'll to Supply to excited has progress. than Patricia, our while O’Day executive a and roles turnarounds the and years. great drive as These and strong Steven technology to our making track. our full-time years agenda. markets. a of the been the development organizational businesses Hershey Schiller including Rohit margin for provide to superior veteran digital and Jason take information transformation, will past growth growth operating importance Vice changes international to first expansion our with portfolio in confident results than internal China be The will supply aspects succession And next President, and of with continue quality, leadership success you it Most Grover that Chief wide of talent for I promoted to strategies, continue transition last XX a details week blend of customer to with Rohit key in more our strategic, help remain working given increasing transforming nearly our next Hershey's announced model more a in future proven seasoned for investments delivering He variety we Hershey's Vice business executive turn and changes ERP this has record business committed I'm to contributions our International. today Steve key Officer Voskuil will of next financial