The Internet just got a little less sweet.

Hershey Co. announced Thursday that it was closing its Hershey’s Gifts online service on July 31. After that, if customers want the nation’s second-largest candy maker’s products, they’ll have to visit local stores.

Because of the closure of the site, www.hersheysgifts.com, the online service has reduced the price of all offerings by 25 percent.

Saville said about 12 Hershey’s Gifts employees would lose their jobs.