The Hershey's and Reese's brands candy maker, Hershey Co has some 'sweet' news in store during these sour times! The Hershey, Pa.-based company increased its marketing expenses, lifted its sales, and posted a higher-than-estimated quarterly profit - 51 percent!

On Tuesday, the candy maker reported its net income for the fourth-quarter as $82.2 million, or 36 cents per share, substantially up from the earlier year's figures of $54.3 million, or 24 cents per share.

Excluding the supply chain revamp costs and the asset impairment charges, Hershey reported 59 cents a share, which surpassed the Reuters Estimates' 54 cents projected as average figures by analysts.

Hershey's sales of $1.38 billion marked a 2.6 percent increase. The sales were enhanced as a result of the company's August announcement of a 10 percent price rise in the US; thereby counterbalancing lower sales volume and the effect the stronger US dollar had on overseas sales.

As regards the 2009 forecast, the company has stood by its sales and earnings view, saying that higher commodity and pension costs, as well as the slow economy will play their parts on the results.

For 2009, Hershey would go by its anticipated 2-3 percent increase in sales; and though it expects earnings to be higher than the 2008 figures, it feels they still would be less than its long-term target of 6-8 percent!