Hershey's gum and mint sales have plunged 50%, because people apparently don't care if they've got bad breath when they're stuck at home

• Hershey's mint and gum sales have plunged due to social distancing measures in response to the coronavirus, CEO Michele Gross Buck said on the group's first-quarter earnings call.
• "These categories are much more functional than emotional, and they've experienced declines of 40% to 50% over the past several weeks," she said.
• Consumers are probably less concerned about bad breath if they're staying at home instead of socializing.
• In contrast, Hershey's sales of syrup, baking chips, cocoa soared about 30% in March as families are baking more.
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Hershey's sales of breath mints and chewing gum have plummeted as people obey coronavirus lockdowns and avoid going on dates, meeting friends and family, and chatting with coworkers by the water cooler.

"The gum and mint category has been significantly impacted by social distancing," Hershey's CEO Michele Gross Buck said on the confectionery giant's first-quarter earnings call on Thursday, according to a transcript on Sentieo, a financial research site.

"These categories are much more functional than emotional, and they've experienced declines of 40% to 50% over the past several weeks," she added.

In other words, many consumers buy Hershey's brands such as Breath Savers and Ice Breakers to combat their bad breath. When they're working from home and eschewing contact with others, they're less worried about keeping it minty fresh.

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The good news for Hershey's is that they're loading up on other products during the pandemic.

Hershey's Kisses are selling well, and the company's sales of syrup, baking chips, cocoa soared about 30% in March, "as families are spending more time together at home baking," Gross Buck said on the call.

Hershey's underlying sales rose 0.5% last quarter, fueling a 2.5% increase in adjusted earnings per share. The company has withdrawn its financial guidance for this year, citing a "high degree of uncertainty" due to the coronavirus.