Hershey says it will shift back to classic recipe for all Reese's products after criticism

Key Points:

• Hershey announced it will revert to classic milk and dark chocolate recipes for all Reese’s products by 2027, responding to criticism from Brad Reese, grandson of the Reese’s founder, who condemned the use of cheaper ingredients.
• Currently, some Reese’s products, such as mini Easter eggs, use a coating with less chocolate, but Hershey plans to restore the original recipes and also transition to natural colors and improve Kit-Kat’s creaminess next year.
• The company intends to increase its research and development budget by 25% in 2024 to better align with consumer preferences and innovation demands.
• Brad Reese publicly challenged Hershey on Valentine’s Day for compromising the quality of Reese’s by replacing key ingredients, highlighting the brand’s legacy of trust and quality.
• Hershey cited high cocoa prices and consumer demand for innovation as reasons for past recipe changes, while Brad Reese’s family history traces back to H.B. Reese, who invented Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups in 1928 before the brand was sold to Hershey in 1963.