The Hershey Company is officially caving to pressure from loyal fans and the founding family.
After weeks of heat regarding the quality of its candy, the brand announced it will return to using real chocolate in all Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups starting in 2027.
The decision follows a wave of complaints about “compound coatings” replacing traditional chocolate in seasonal items like mini Easter eggs. In a statement addressing the change, Hershey confirmed a shift back to “their classic milk chocolate and dark chocolate recipes next year.” This move is part of a broader plan to improve their entire lineup, including making Kit Kats creamier and switching to natural colors.
The push for change was sparked by an open letter from Brad Reese, the grandson of the brand’s creator, H.B. Reese. On LinkedIn, Brad called out the company for quietly swapping out the premium ingredients that made the brand famous.
“How does The Hershey Company 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?” Reese wrote.
Brad didn’t hold back when describing his experience with the newer, cheaper recipes. Speaking to the Associated Press, he admitted the newer seasonal treats were a far cry from the original.
“It was not edible,” he said. “You have to understand. I used to eat a Reese’s product every day. This is very devastating for me.” In another post, he reminded the public that “Reese’s didn’t become iconic because of compound coatings and peanut butter cremes. Reese’s became iconic because my grandfather built it on real ingredients and real integrity.”
Hershey initially defended the recipe tweaks as necessary for “new shapes, sizes, and innovations,” but the public outcry and the 25% increase in their R&D budget suggest they are now taking the quality concerns seriously. “Hershey is committed to making products consumers love and that means continually reviewing our recipes to meet evolving tastes and preferences,” the company added.
While the “real chocolate” won’t be fully back across the board until 2027, the win for purists shows that even the biggest candy giants have to listen when the family name is on the line.
