Hershey revealed on Wednesday that starting in 2027, all Reese’s products will revert to their classic recipes featuring real milk and dark chocolate. The decision comes after public criticism, including a vocal letter from Brad Reese, the grandson of Reese’s founder, who accused the company of degrading the brand by substituting cheaper ingredients.
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups have traditionally been made with real milk or dark chocolate and peanut butter. However, Hershey had recently modified a small portion of its product line—such as mini Easter eggs—to use a coating with less actual chocolate. The company now confirms these items will return to their original chocolate formulations next year.
Beyond Reese’s, Hershey plans additional product changes in 2027, including updating KitKat’s recipe to improve creaminess and transitioning its confectionery portfolio to use natural colors. The company also announced a planned 25% increase in research and development funding to support product innovation.
Brad Reese publicly criticized the change after sending a letter to Hershey on Valentine’s Day. In the letter, posted on LinkedIn, he questioned how Hershey could maintain Reese’s reputation as a “symbol of trust and quality” while quietly replacing foundational ingredients like milk chocolate and peanut butter. Hershey acknowledged the ingredient adjustment but said it was driven by consumer demand and high cocoa prices, which have pressured manufacturers to explore chocolate reductions.
Brad Reese is the grandson of H.B. Reese, who invented Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups in 1928 after departing Hershey’s company. H.B. Reese’s family sold the candy brand to Hershey in 1963, cementing its place as one of Hershey’s flagship products.
Why it matters
Hershey’s decision to revert to the original Reese’s recipes addresses growing consumer concerns about product quality and brand trust. After reforms in ingredients sparked backlash from both customers and Reese family descendants, Hershey’s move signals an emphasis on heritage recipes amid competitive pressures and ingredient cost challenges. This change may impact industry trends in ingredient transparency and product formulation.
Background
In recent years, rising cocoa prices and evolving consumer preferences have led many confectionery manufacturers, including Hershey, to experiment with less costly formulations. Some Reese’s products, like holiday-themed miniatures, shifted away from classic chocolate content, drawing criticism from brand purists. The public letter from Brad Reese reignited debate over maintaining quality in legacy candy brands and highlighted tensions between cost management and product authenticity in the confectionery market.
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