In a significant move for candy lovers, The Hershey Company announced on Wednesday that it will revert all Reese's products to their classic recipes starting next year. This decision comes after Brad Reese, the grandson of Reese's founder H.B. Reese, publicly criticized the company for shifting to cheaper ingredients in some items.
Returning to Traditional Formulas
While Reese's Peanut Butter Cups have traditionally been made with real milk chocolate or dark chocolate and peanut butter, Hershey had introduced a coating with less chocolate in a small portion of products, such as mini Easter eggs. The company confirmed that by 2027, these items will transition back to "their classic milk chocolate and dark chocolate recipes," ensuring consistency across the brand.
Broader Portfolio Changes
Hershey, based in Hershey, Pennsylvania, revealed additional updates to its sweets portfolio for the coming year. These include switching to natural colors in various products and enhancing the Kit-Kat recipe to achieve a creamier texture. To support these initiatives, Hershey plans to increase its research and development funding by 25% next year.
"Hershey is committed to making products consumers love and that means continually reviewing our recipes to meet evolving tastes and preferences," the company stated in an official release.
Controversy Sparked by Founder's Grandson
The controversy began when Brad Reese sent a public letter to Hershey's corporate brand manager on Valentine's Day, which he later posted on his LinkedIn profile. In the letter, he questioned how Hershey could maintain Reese's as a flagship brand symbolizing trust and quality while quietly replacing the original ingredients that built that reputation.
"How does The Hershey Co. continue to position Reese's as its flagship brand, a symbol of trust, quality and leadership, while quietly replacing the very ingredients (Milk Chocolate + Peanut Butter) that built Reese's trust in the first place?" Reese wrote.
Hershey's Response and Market Pressures
Hershey acknowledged making some recipe adjustments but explained that these were efforts to innovate and meet consumer demands. The company also cited high cocoa prices as a factor that has led Hershey and other manufacturers to experiment with using less chocolate in recent years.
As of Wednesday, The Associated Press had left a message with Brad Reese seeking further comment, but no response had been reported at the time of this article.
Historical Context of Reese's
Brad Reese is the grandson of H.B. Reese, who worked at Hershey for two years before founding his own candy company in 1919. H.B. Reese invented the iconic Reese's Peanut Butter Cups in 1928, and his six sons eventually sold the company to Hershey in 1963, cementing its place in American confectionery history.
This move to return to classic recipes marks a notable shift in Hershey's strategy, emphasizing quality and tradition in response to consumer and familial feedback.
