Hershey says it will shift back to classic Reese’s recipe after backlash

In a recent announcement, Hershey revealed its plans to revert back to classic recipes for all Reese’s products starting next year. This decision comes after criticism from Brad Reese, the grandson of Reese’s founder, who spoke out against the company’s shift to cheaper ingredients in some of its products.

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups have always been known for their use of real milk or dark chocolate and peanut butter. However, a small portion of Hershey’s and Reese’s products, such as mini Easter eggs, have recently been made with a coating containing less chocolate. In response to this feedback, Hershey has committed to transitioning these products back to their original milk chocolate and dark chocolate recipes in 2027.

In addition to this change, Hershey has announced other updates to its sweets portfolio for next year. These include a shift to natural colors and an enhancement of KitKat’s recipe to make it creamier. The company also plans to increase research and development funding by 25% to continue meeting evolving consumer tastes and preferences.

Brad Reese’s public letter to Hershey’s corporate brand manager on Valentine’s Day brought attention to the issue of ingredient changes in Reese’s products. In his letter, Reese questioned how Hershey could maintain Reese’s as a flagship brand while altering the ingredients that initially built trust in the product. Reese is the grandson of H.B. Reese, the inventor of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, who eventually sold his company to Hershey in 1963.

Hershey acknowledged the recipe changes but stated that they were responding to consumer demand for innovation. Rising cocoa prices have also influenced manufacturers like Hershey to experiment with using less chocolate in their products.

As of now, Hershey has not provided further details on the specific changes to be made in the recipes of its products. However, the company remains committed to creating products that consumers love and will continue to review and adjust its recipes to meet market demands.

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