The Hershey Company Selects GSI Commerce as Its Direct-to-Consumer Platform Partner for Its Hershey's Gifts Business

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa., and HERSHEY, Pa., March 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- GSI Commerce Inc. , a leading provider of e-commerce solutions, today announced it has signed a multiyear agreement with The Hershey Company , North America's leading chocolate and confectionery manufacturer, to provide a full-service, direct-to-consumer solution for its online gift store and catalog, Hershey's Gifts (http://www.hersheysgifts.com/) and Mauna Loa (http://www.maunaloa.com/). Services GSI will provide to Hershey include e-commerce and order processing technologies, personalization and fulfillment of chocolate gifts, and customer care support for Web, catalog and business consumers.

"Our online shopping sites provide a powerful way for consumers to connect with Hershey," said Michelle Gloeckler, vice president and general manager of The Hershey Experience. "This new partnership enables Hershey to create exciting online experiences for consumers and to further build our iconic brands by offering innovative custom and personalized gifts. With GSI's advanced Web technology and customization capabilities, Hershey's consumers will continue to receive quality service while enjoying unmatched online shopping."

"We are proud to have earned the opportunity to partner with a national icon such as Hershey," said Damon Mintzer, executive vice president of sales for GSI Commerce. "GSI's end-to-end solution will help create Hershey customers' online and catalog shopping experiences that reinforce their trust in and satisfaction with the Hershey brand."

The Hershey Company agreement marks GSI's entry into the online retail category of specialty foods.

About The Hershey Company

The Hershey Company is the largest North American manufacturer of quality chocolate and sugar confectionery products. With revenues of nearly $5 billion and more than 13,000 employees worldwide, The Hershey Company markets such iconic brands as Hershey's, Reese's, Hershey's Kisses, and Ice Breakers. Hershey is the leader in the fast-growing dark and premium chocolate segment, with such brands as Hershey's Special Dark, Hershey's Extra Dark and Cacao Reserve by Hershey's. Hershey's Ice Breakers franchise delivers refreshment across a variety of mint and gum flavors and formats. In addition, Hershey leverages its iconic brands, marketplace scale and confectionery and nut expertise to develop and deliver substantial snacks, including Hershey's and Reese's single-serve cookies and brownies, and value-added snack nuts, including Hershey's Milk Chocolate Covered Almonds and Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate Covered Almonds. Hershey also offers a range of products to address the health and well-being needs of today's consumer. Hershey's and Reese's Snacksters offer consumers great-tasting snacks in portion-controlled servings, while Hershey's dark chocolate offerings provide the benefits of flavanol antioxidants. In addition, Artisan Confections Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Hershey Company, markets such premium chocolate offerings as Scharffen Berger, known for its high-cacao dark chocolate products, Joseph Schmidt, recognized for its fine, handcrafted chocolate gifts, and Dagoba, known for its high-quality natural and organic chocolate bars. Visit us at http://www.hersheynewsroom.com/.

About GSI Commerce

GSI Commerce is a leading provider of e-commerce solutions that enable retailers, branded manufacturers, entertainment companies and professional sports organizations to operate e-commerce businesses. We provide solutions for our partners through our integrated e-commerce platform, which is comprised of three components: technology, logistics and customer care, and marketing services. We provide e-commerce solutions for approximately 60 partners.

Forward-Looking Statements

All statements made in this release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. The words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "will," "would," "should," "guidance," "potential," "continue," "project," "forecast," "confident," "prospects," "schedule" and similar expressions typically are used to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the then- current expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates and forecasts about the business of GSI Commerce. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions, which are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Factors which may affect GSI Commerce's business, financial condition and operating results include the effects of changes in the economy, consumer spending, the financial markets and the industries in which GSI Commerce and its partners operate, changes affecting the Internet and e- commerce, the ability of GSI Commerce to develop and maintain relationships with strategic partners and suppliers and the timing of its establishment, extension or termination of its relationships with strategic partners, the ability of GSI Commerce to timely and successfully develop, maintain and protect its technology, confidential and proprietary information, and product and service offerings and execute operationally, the ability of GSI Commerce to attract and retain qualified personnel, the ability of GSI Commerce to successfully integrate its acquisitions of other businesses, if any, the performance of acquired businesses and the impact of SFAS 123r. More information about potential factors that could affect GSI Commerce can be found in its most recent Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and other reports and statements filed by GSI Commerce with the SEC. GSI Commerce expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

Contact: GSI Commerce, Inc. Corporate Marketing 610.491.7474 Fax: 610.265.2866 news@gsicommerce.com