Mr. Reese slams Hershey’s for gutting the core of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and making it ‘inedible’

Brad Reese, the 70-year-old grandson of the legendary H.B. Reese, is absolutely furious with The Hershey Co. He claims they’ve made some Reese’s products “inedible” by swapping out key ingredients for cheaper alternatives. He recently sent a scathing letter to Hershey’s corporate brand manager on February 14, which he also shared on his LinkedIn profile, accusing the company of hurting the iconic Reese’s brand.

Reese noted that in many items, the company replaced the classic milk chocolate with compound coatings and the beloved peanut butter with peanut crème. He pointed to a bag of Reese’s Mini Hearts, a new Valentine’s Day offering, that he threw out because they were made with “chocolate candy and peanut butter crème.” He told an interviewer it was “not edible” and “very devastating,” since he used to enjoy a Reese’s product every single day.

Reese has a strong connection to the brand. Per AP News, his grandfather, H.B. Reese, actually spent two years at Hershey before founding his own candy company in 1919. The original Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, which we all know and love, were invented by H.B. Reese back in 1928. His six sons eventually sold the company to Hershey in 1963, cementing the brand’s place in the candy giant’s portfolio.

Reese’s has an iconic flavor that you cannot mess with

Hershey, for its part, acknowledges that some recipe adjustments have been made across its product lines. The company stated that these changes are driven by consumer demand for innovation and to create new shapes and sizes. They also mentioned that high cocoa prices in recent years have led them, and other manufacturers, to experiment with using less chocolate. However, they insist that the original Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are still made the same way. 

Despite Hershey’s assurances about the original cups, Brad Reese believes the changes in other products in Reese’s product line are a big problem. He passionately asked in his letter: “How does The Hershey Co. 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?”

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has strict rules regarding chocolate labeling. For a product to be officially called “milk chocolate,” it needs to contain at least 10% chocolate liquor, 12% milk solids, and 3.39% milk fat. Companies can sidestep these requirements by rephrasing descriptions, “chocolate candy” instead of “milk chocolate.” This practice seems to be at the heart of Brad Reese’s frustration.

Hershey insists that their formula changes haven’t impacted “taste profile and the specialness of our iconic brands,” citing extensive consumer testing. Reese’s personal experience, and the feedback he says he’s received, directly contradict this. He believes Hershey should remember a famous quote from its founder, Milton Hershey: “Give them quality, that’s the best advertising.” For Reese, innovation is great, but it absolutely has to come with quality.