The Hershey Company has announced that it’s bringing back real chocolate in Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups in 2027, following weeks of criticism by customers and a letter from the grandson of Reese’s creator H.B. Reese.
The company released a statement confirming that it would be shifting Reese’s products back to “their classic milk chocolate and dark chocolate recipes next year.” This came after a small portion of Hershey’s and Reese’s products, like mini Easter eggs, were being made with a coating that has less chocolate.
In addition to that shift, The Hershey Company announced that it would also be making further changes to its chocolate sweets next year, such as transitioning to natural colors and making Kit Kats creamier. It also plans to increase funding for research and development by 25%.
"Hershey is committed to making products consumers love and that means continually reviewing our recipes to meet evolving tastes and preferences," the company said in a statement.
The Hershey Company’s announcement comes almost two months after H.B. Reese’s grandson, Brad, accused the candy company of changing the most important ingredients in Reese’s products in ways that undermine the legacy of the brand.
In an open letter that he shared on LinkedIn, Brad brought up how The Hershey Company markets Reese’s as a symbol of quality while continuously making changes to the ingredients that contradicts their claims.
"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 very ingredients (Milk Chocolate + Peanut Butter) that built Reese's trust in the first place?" Reese wrote.
In a separate post Brad wrote, "Reese's didn't become iconic because of compound coatings and peanut butter cremes. Reese's became iconic because my grandfather built it on real ingredients and real integrity."
When speaking to the Associated Press about his concerns, Brad brought up that he felt like this after trying newer seasonal products.
"It was not edible," he said. “You have to understand. I used to eat a Reese's product every day. This is very devastating for me."
The Hershey Company responded to Brad’s criticism, saying that the original Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups weren't changed and that products’ recipes can get adjusted when they create new variations.
"As we've grown and expanded the Reese's product line, we make product recipe adjustments that allow us to create new shapes, sizes, and innovations that fans have come to love," the company said in a statement.
