NEW YORK, Sept 19 (Reuters) - A spokesperson for Hershey

said on Thursday the chocolate maker laid off a small

number of its employees this week as part of organizational

changes the company announced earlier this year when cocoa

prices reached record highs.

This week's layoffs, which have not been previously

reported, affected less than 1% of the roughly 20,000 employees

at the maker of Hershey's candy bars and Reese's peanut butter

cups, a company spokesperson said told Reuters.

In a statement related to the layoffs, Hershey said it

remains focused on transforming its business.

"As part of that transformation, we are making meaningful

changes to evolve our capabilities, systems and ways of working

to become a leading snacking powerhouse," the Kisses

manufacturer said. Hershey also sells Dot's pretzels and

Pirate's Booty popcorn.

The Hershey, Pennsylvania-based company announced in

February that it would be cutting jobs and incurring costs

related to a productivity initiative aimed at generating $300

million in savings by 2026. The initiative also aims to improve

supply chain and manufacturing-related spending.

The chocolatier has hiked prices on its candies to offset

rising costs over the last several years. Consumers continued to

buy its popular treats despite the increases, but sentiment has

changed in recent months. In August, Hershey cut its annual

profit and sales forecast, and reported a 17% drop in sales.

Hershey has also signaled it would have to hike prices again

to offset rising cocoa costs, stemming from a bean disease in

Africa.