Hershey said Wednesday it will use classic recipes for all Reese鈥檚 products starting next year, a change that comes after the grandson of Reese鈥檚 founder for shifting to cheaper ingredients.
Reese鈥檚 Peanut Butter Cups have always been made with real milk chocolate or dark chocolate and peanut butter. But a small portion of Hershey鈥檚 and Reese鈥檚 products, like mini Easter eggs, are now made with a coating that contains less chocolate.
Hershey said that in 2027, it will shift those products to 鈥渢heir classic milk chocolate and dark chocolate recipes.鈥�
The Hershey, Pennsylvania-based company said it will also be making other changes to its sweets portfolio next year, including transitioning to natural colors and enhancing Kit-Kat鈥檚 recipe to make it creamier. The company said it plans to increase its research and development funding by 25% next year.
鈥淗ershey is committed to making products consumers love and that means continually reviewing our recipes to meet evolving tastes and preferences,鈥� the company said in a statement.
Brad Reese, the grandson of the inventor of Reese鈥檚 Peanut Butter Cups, ignited the controversy in a public letter he sent to Hershey鈥檚 corporate brand manager on Valentine鈥檚 Day.
鈥淗ow does The Hershey Co. continue to position Reese鈥檚 as its flagship brand, a symbol of trust, quality and leadership, while quietly replacing the very ingredients (Milk Chocolate + Peanut Butter) that built Reese鈥檚 trust in the first place?鈥� Reese wrote in the letter, which he posted on his LinkedIn profile.
acknowledged some recipe changes but said it was trying to meet consumer demand for innovation. also have led Hershey and other manufacturers to experiment with using less chocolate in recent years.
The Associated Press left a message with Brad Reese on Wednesday seeking comment.
Brad Reese is the grandson of H.B. Reese, who spent two years at Hershey before forming his own candy company in 1919. H.B. Reese invented Reese鈥檚 Peanut Butter Cups in 1928; his six sons eventually sold his company to Hershey in 1963.
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