Almost everyone loves chocolate, though unless it’s intentional, melted chocolate is a messy, frustrating problem. While most consumers are aware of the risk associated with leaving a chocolate bar in the car during a hot day, they may not realize the unique shipping challenges manufacturers face during the summer months or in warmer climates.
To solve this problem, the Hershey Company is seeking ideas for the development of a lightweight, affordable cool shipping system that will keep chocolate close to the temperature at which it was packed for at least 48 hours. The open contest is designed to identify new systems or materials that will allow chocolate to be shipped in warm weather without the need for gel packs. According to Hershey, the ultimate goal is to develop a system that would be inexpensive enough to use year round as part of the standard packaging for consumers’ chocolate shipments.