US EditionPopular Chocolate Sweets to Return to Original Ingredients Following Public Criticism
The candy maker will restore classic formulas for some products after criticism over ingredient changes, and it plans to boost research and development spending by 25% next year.
- Earlier this week, The Hershey Company announced it will return classic brands to original milk and dark chocolate recipes by 2027, affecting specialty candies while maintaining that core formulations remain unchanged.
- Brad Reese, grandson of founder H.B. Reese, launched a public campaign criticizing the company for using what he termed "cheap, imitation ingredients," questioning how the brand maintains flagship status while altering consumer-trusted formulas.
- Hershey CEO Kirk Tanner stated the decision was not a reaction but a planned portfolio alignment made shortly after assuming his role, with changes affecting less than 3% of Reese's products and under 1% of Hershey's total portfolio.
- Reese dismissed the company's explanation as "total bunk," alleging attempts to minimize changes, while other Reese family members publicly distanced themselves, clarifying his statements do not represent their views.
- Hershey plans to increase research and development funding by 25% next year to balance innovation with consumer expectations while maintaining brand identity amid ongoing scrutiny over ingredient changes.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Popular chocolate sweets to return to original ingredients following public criticism
Hershey said Wednesday it will use classic recipes for all Reese’s products starting next year, a change that comes after the grandson of Reese’s founder criticized the company for shifting to cheaper ingredients.
The grandson of the founder of Reeses has publicly accused Herseys of having altered in secret the original recipe of several of his treats.
Candy makers quietly change recipes as climate change hits cocoa industry
Earlier this week, The Hershey Company announced that it is returning all of its classic brands to earlier milk and dark chocolate recipes. The move comes amid a growing backlash over the recipe changes and the use of chocolate alternatives in some of its candies. Deema Zein explores what’s behind this latest battle in the chocolate wars.
Reese’s heir vs. chocolate skimpflation : Planet Money
Live event info and tickets here. When ingredient costs skyrocket, companies have three basic options: They can raise their prices (a sort of product-specific inflation), shrink the size of the products (often called “shrinkflation”), or, sometimes, find more creative ways to reduce costs by degrading the quality of their products - which our very own Greg Rosalsky has dubbed as “skimpflation.” The latest alleged culprit? Hershey’s.The Hershey …
Hershey to Revert to Original Reese’s Recipe After Founder’s Grandson Speaks Out
A public complaint from the grandson of Reese’s founder has pushed Hershey to reaffirm its commitment to tradition. The company now plans to shift products back to classic recipes, while also addressing growing scrutiny over ingredient changes and brand identity. Hershey has announced plans to return Reese’s products to their...
Hershey Announces They Will Go Back To Old Peanut Butter Cup Recipe
Here's some good news. You may have seen Brad Reese, a grandson of the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup inventor, on the air recently. He's been on a mission to restore the legacy of the candy that bears his family’s name. It started when he bit into a Reese’s Mini Heart: “It was disgusting,” he said in an interview. Ever since, the 70-year-old's been railing against the Hershey Company, which now makes Reese’s products, on LinkedIn and in media appear…
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