Hershey stated Wednesday it can use traditional recipes for all Reese’s merchandise beginning subsequent yr, a change that comes after the grandson of Reese’s founder criticized the corporate for shifting to cheaper elements.
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups have at all times been made with actual milk chocolate or darkish chocolate and peanut butter. However a small portion of Hershey’s and Reese’s merchandise, like mini Easter eggs, are actually made with a coating that incorporates much less chocolate.
Hershey stated that in 2027, it can shift these merchandise to “their traditional milk chocolate and darkish chocolate recipes.”
The Hershey, Pennsylvania-based firm stated it can even be making different modifications to its sweets portfolio subsequent yr, together with transitioning to pure colours and enhancing Package-Kat’s recipe to make it creamier. The corporate stated it plans to extend its analysis and improvement funding by 25% subsequent yr.
AP Photograph/Gene J. Puskar, File
“Hershey is dedicated to creating merchandise customers love and meaning frequently reviewing our recipes to satisfy evolving tastes and preferences,” the corporate stated in an announcement.
Brad Reese, the grandson of the inventor of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, ignited the controversy in a public letter he despatched to Hershey’s company model supervisor on Valentine’s Day.
“How does The Hershey Co. proceed to place Reese’s as its flagship model, a logo of belief, high quality and management, whereas quietly changing the very elements (Milk Chocolate + Peanut Butter) that constructed Reese’s belief within the first place?” Reese wrote within the letter, which he posted on his LinkedIn profile.
Hershey acknowledged some recipe modifications however stated it was making an attempt to satisfy client demand for innovation. Excessive cocoa costs even have led Hershey and different producers to experiment with utilizing much less chocolate in recent times.
The Related Press left a message with Brad Reese on Wednesday in search of remark.
Brad Reese is the grandson of H.B. Reese, who spent two years at Hershey earlier than forming his personal sweet firm in 1919. H.B. Reese invented Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups in 1928; his six sons ultimately offered his firm to Hershey in 1963.