Off topic but here in Europe your chocolate example would be reversed: Lindt is the most pleasing and neutral milk chocolate, while Hersheys is considered an acquired taste
Imagine if in Europe Hershey's was marked as a fancy import. You would try it and distinctly taste vomit (butyric acid.) The proprietor at the chocolate store then tells you that's what's good about it.
EDIT How many more times are you going to edit your post?
My assumption in this case would be that it's higher price because higher cost because imported, and consequently it's only bought by homesick expats or people who specifically want a famous US brand, not people who are optimising for price/quality.
> Hersheys is indeed marked as a fancy import in Europe (as are most American snacks).
Then you don't have to imagine?
Here in Germany Milka is basically the main brand and Lindt is the affordable luxury option. Hershey's is rarely even available.
Granted, I don't see Hershey's as much... and I've seen some times Lindt for way cheaper than I expected in the street market, but even so I had no idea...