BUZZ-Hershey down on report company to take huge cocoa position in New York

** Chocolate maker Hershey's HSY.N shares down 2.5% at $161.40

** HSY is asking the U.S. top derivatives regulator for permission to buy a huge amount of cocoa through the New York exchange as prices hit record high, according to a Bloomberg News report

** Co wants to take a position that will allow it to purchase more than 90,000 metric tons of cocoa on ICE Futures US, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg

** "Hershey has a rigorous commodity procurement process. We are well covered on our cocoa needs for 2025 to make the products our consumers love" — company spokesperson in a response to Reuters query

** HSY stock fell 9% in 2024

(Reporting by Aamir Sohail in Bengaluru)

((Aamir.Sohail@thomsonreuters.com))