Hershey announced on Wednesday its decision to revert all Reese’s products to their original recipes starting from next year. This move comes after criticism from the grandson of the brand’s founder regarding the company’s shift to lower-cost ingredients.
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups have traditionally been crafted using genuine milk or dark chocolate along with peanut butter. However, a small fraction of Hershey’s and Reese’s items, such as mini Easter eggs, now utilize a coating with reduced chocolate content.
Hershey stated that it will transition these products back to their “classic milk chocolate and dark chocolate recipes” in 2027. Additionally, the Hershey-based company disclosed upcoming modifications to its confectionery range for the following year, including the adoption of natural colors and enhancing Kit Kat’s formula for a creamier texture. The firm intends to boost its research and development funding by 25% in the upcoming year.
In a statement, the company expressed its dedication to producing beloved products that meet evolving consumer preferences by consistently reviewing recipes. Brad Reese, the grandson of the inventor of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, sparked the debate by sending a public letter to Hershey’s corporate brand manager on Valentine’s Day.
In the letter posted on his LinkedIn profile, Reese questioned how Hershey could maintain Reese’s as a flagship brand embodying trust, quality, and leadership while quietly substituting the original ingredients (Milk Chocolate + Peanut Butter) that initially established Reese’s reputation.
Hershey acknowledged some recipe alterations but emphasized its efforts to respond to consumer demands for innovation. Escalating cocoa prices have prompted Hershey and other manufacturers to explore reducing chocolate content in their products in recent years.
The Associated Press attempted to reach out to Brad Reese for comment on Wednesday. Reese is the grandson of H.B. Reese, who had a brief tenure at Hershey before establishing his candy company in 1919. He introduced Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups in 1928, with his sons eventually selling the business to Hershey in 1963.