FOOD

Chocolate War Heating Up: Hershey Foods Corp., one of the nation’s biggest candy makers, said it has begun offering refunds to consumers in response to a similar offer by Mars Inc. Hershey announced that it will give 5-cent refunds for proofs-of-purchase on its Hershey’s, Reese’s and Peter Paul-Cadbury candy bars. A minimum of 20 wrappers must be turned in to receive the refunds from the “Hershey’s Puts a Smile on Your Face” program. The refunds apply to any Hershey’s candy bar weighing one ounce or more. Participants who turn in the wrappers by July 31 will also receive four coupons for free standard-size Hershey’s candy bars. The Hershey promotion runs through Oct. 31. Mars Inc. began the chocolate battle earlier this month when it unveiled its rebate offer, $1 for each bundle of 20 regular or king-size candy wrappers.