A Family Legacy Meets Corporate Decisions (Image Credits: Unsplash)
A pointed open letter from the grandson of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup creator has ignited debate about quality control at The Hershey Company.[1][2]
A Family Legacy Meets Corporate Decisions
Brad Reese, 70, grabbed attention with his February 14 accusation that Hershey compromised the essence of his grandfather’s invention. H.B. Reese developed the peanut butter cup in 1928, and his company merged with Hershey in 1963.[3] In a LinkedIn post addressed to Hershey’s corporate brand manager Todd Scott, Brad Reese declared that formulation changes replaced milk chocolate with compound coatings and peanut butter with peanut butter-style crèmes across several products.[2]
“My grandfather built Reese’s on a simple, enduring architecture: Milk Chocolate + Peanut Butter,” he wrote. The move, he argued, risked eroding consumer trust in the brand positioned as a symbol of quality.[4] Reese invoked Hershey founder Milton Hershey’s emphasis on quality as the best advertising. He stressed this was not opposition to innovation but a call for alignment between marketing narratives and actual ingredients.
Products That Prompted the Outcry
Reese pinpointed recent Valentine’s Day items as particularly problematic. He purchased a bag of Reese’s Mini Hearts – or a similar unwrapped variant – and discarded it after tasting. “It was not edible,” he told reporters. “You have to understand. I used to eat a Reese’s product every day. This was so bad.”[1][5]
Other examples included Reese’s Take 5 and Fast Break bars, which he said shed their milk chocolate coating. White Reese’s shifted from white chocolate to white creme, and international versions in Europe used “milk chocolate-flavored coating.” Packaging for Mini Hearts listed “chocolate candy and peanut butter crème,” bypassing U.S. standards for true milk chocolate.[3]
- Reese’s Mini Hearts: Chocolate candy and peanut butter crème.
- Take 5 and Fast Break bars: No milk chocolate coating.
- White Reese’s: White creme instead of white chocolate.
- European Reese’s Cups: Flavored coating and crème.
Hershey Pushes Back on the Claims
The Hershey Company responded swiftly to the allegations. “Our iconic Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are made the same way they always have been,” the firm stated, detailing milk chocolate from sugar, cocoa butter, chocolate, skim milk, milk fat, lactose, lecithin, and PGPR, paired with peanuts, sugar, dextrose, salt, and preservatives.[4] Recipe tweaks supported new shapes and innovations while preserving the chocolate-peanut butter harmony.
Executives noted extensive consumer testing ensured no taste impact. Changes coincided with 2024 cocoa price surges, though prices later fell. Hershey maintained that core products retained their profile amid line expansions like Big Cups.[1]
Consumer Sentiments Echo the Critique
LinkedIn comments amplified Reese’s concerns. Fans lamented thinner products, altered tastes, and rising prices despite substitutions. One user recalled the classic “chocolate in my peanut butter” slogan, now seemingly distant. Others pledged to boycott until reversals.
Brad Reese heard similar feedback often: products no longer matched childhood memories. He viewed the shifts as devastating to his family’s legacy, urging transparency over bottom-line priorities.[2]
This clash highlights tensions in the candy industry between tradition and adaptation. As cocoa markets stabilize, questions linger on balancing innovation with authenticity.
Key Takeaways
- Classic Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups remain unchanged, per Hershey.
- Variants like Mini Hearts use alternative coatings and crèmes.
- Debate centers on brand trust amid cost pressures and expansions.
The Reese’s saga underscores a timeless truth: legacies endure through integrity, not just invention. What changes have you noticed in favorite candies? Share in the comments.