Grandson of Reese's Creator Accuses Hershey's of Damaging Iconic Brand

Brad Reese says Hershey has replaced key ingredients in Reese's products, hurting quality and trust.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Brad Reese, the grandson of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups inventor H.B. Reese, has accused The Hershey Company of damaging the Reese's brand by replacing milk chocolate with compound coatings and peanut butter with peanut crème in many Reese's products. Reese claims these changes have hurt the quality and trust associated with the iconic brand.

Why it matters

The Reese's brand is one of Hershey's most valuable and recognizable products, so any perceived decline in quality or changes to the core recipe could significantly impact consumer trust and the company's bottom line. This dispute highlights the challenges large food companies face in balancing innovation with maintaining the integrity of their classic products.

The details

In a letter to Hershey's corporate brand manager, Brad Reese said the company has replaced milk chocolate with compound coatings and peanut butter with peanut crème in multiple Reese's products. Reese claims these changes have made some Reese's products, like the new Reese's Mini Hearts, "not edible." Hershey acknowledges some recipe changes but says it is trying to meet consumer demand for innovation, and that the core Reese's Peanut Butter Cups recipe remains unchanged.

  • In the early 2000s, Hershey released White Reese's, which were made with white chocolate. Now they are made with a white crème.
  • Reese's Take5 and Fast Break bars used to be coated with milk chocolate, but now they are not.

The players

Brad Reese

The 70-year-old grandson of H.B. Reese, the inventor of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.

H.B. Reese

The inventor of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, who spent two years at Hershey before forming his own candy company in 1919.

The Hershey Company

The large candy manufacturer that acquired H.B. Reese's candy company in 1963 and owns the Reese's brand.

Steven Voskuil

Hershey's Chief Financial Officer, who acknowledged the company has made some changes to its formulas to maintain "the taste profile and the specialness of our iconic brands."

Milton Hershey

The founder of The Hershey Company, who famously said "Give them quality, that's the best advertising."

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What they’re saying

“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?”

— Brad Reese, Grandson of Reese's Inventor (LinkedIn)

“As we've grown and expanded the Reese's product line, we make product recipe adjustments that allow us to make new shapes, sizes and innovations that Reese's fans have come to love and ask for, while always protecting the essence of what makes Reese's unique and special: the perfect combination of chocolate and peanut butter.”

— The Hershey Company (Statement)

“I absolutely believe in innovation, but my preference is innovation with quality.”

— Brad Reese, Grandson of Reese's Inventor (Interview)

What’s next

Hershey has not indicated any plans to revert the recipe changes to Reese's products, but the company may face continued scrutiny and backlash from the Reese family and loyal consumers if the quality perception continues to decline.

The takeaway

This dispute highlights the delicate balance large food companies must strike between innovating and maintaining the integrity of their iconic brands. Hershey's changes to Reese's recipes have damaged consumer trust, and the company will need to carefully weigh future innovations against preserving the core qualities that made the brand so successful.