Hershey is tweaking the recipe for some Reese’s products, after complaints from the founder’s grandson, Brad Reese. The company plans to phase out compound coatings in select products, transitioning to traditional chocolate by 2027. Less than 3% of Reese’s items will be affected.
“[We’re] bringing a small portion of remaining Hershey’s and Reese’s products in line with their classic milk and dark chocolate recipes,” a Hershey spokesperson told FOX Business. The core recipes for Hershey’s chocolate bars and Reese’s peanut butter cups are unchanged.
Brad Reese criticized Hershey for allegedly lowering ingredient quality in some products. In a February LinkedIn post, he claimed Hershey had replaced traditional ingredients with cheaper alternatives.
Reese dismissed the announcement as “a PR move” and “total bunk.” He questioned the timeline, suggesting the company is delaying meaningful action. “They’re just hoping this will die down, and it’ll be business as usual by 2027,” Reese said. “If they were really serious, they would do it right away.”
Hershey pushed back, noting that Reese has no official connection to the company or brand. The company also cited a statement from other members of the Reese family distancing themselves from his remarks.
Hershey CEO Kirk Tanner said the decision to adjust ingredients was made shortly after he took on the role last summer. The company is also revising the Kit Kat recipe to create a creamier chocolate taste and plans to eliminate artificial colors from its products by the end of 2027.
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