Hershey says it will go back to classic recipe for all Reese’s products after criticism
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Hershey said Wednesday it will return all Reese’s products to their classic recipes starting next year, after the grandson of the brand’s founder criticized the company for switching to cheaper ingredients.
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are always made with real milk or dark chocolate and peanut butter. But a small portion of Hershey’s and Reese’s products, such as mini Easter eggs, are now made with a coating that contains less chocolate.
Hershey said it would transition those products back to its “classic milk chocolate and dark chocolate recipes” in 2027.
The Hershey, Pennsylvania-based company said it will also make other changes to its dessert portfolio next year, including switching to natural colors and updating Kit Kat’s recipe to make it creamier. The company said it plans to increase its research and development funding by 25 percent next year.
“Hershey’s is committed to creating products consumers love, and that means constantly reviewing our recipes to meet changing tastes and preferences,” the company said in a statement.
Brad Reese, grandson of the inventor of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, sparked controversy in a public letter sent to Hershey’s corporate brand manager on Valentine’s Day.
“How does the Hershey Company continue to position Reese’s as its flagship brand, a symbol of trust, quality and leadership, while quietly replacing the same ingredients (milk chocolate + peanut butter) that built Reese’s trust in the first place?” Reese wrote in the letter, which he posted on his LinkedIn profile.
It’s been almost two years since Hershey purchased its former chocolate factory in Smiths Falls, Ontario. The company has provided little information about its future plans as the economic climate for food manufacturing in Canada is changing.
Hershey acknowledged some recipe changes but said it was trying to meet consumer demand for innovation. High cocoa prices have prompted Hershey and other manufacturers to experiment with using less chocolate in recent years.
The Associated Press left a message for comment Wednesday with Brad Reese.
Brad Reese is the grandson of HB Reese, who spent two years at Hershey before forming his own candy company in 1919. HB Reese invented Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups in 1928. His six sons eventually sold their company to Hershey in 1963.
