Grandson of Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Inventor Accuses Hershey of 'Replacing' Iconic Ingredients

Brad Reese says Hershey has quietly changed the chocolate and peanut butter formula that built consumer trust in the classic candy.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Brad Reese, the grandson of H.B. Reese who invented the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup in 1928, has accused Hershey of 'quietly replacing' the signature chocolate and peanut butter ingredients that made the candy iconic. Reese says Hershey has changed the recipe across multiple Reese's products, fundamentally altering the taste and betraying the trust of consumers.

Why it matters

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are one of Hershey's flagship and most recognizable products, so changes to the core recipe could significantly impact consumer perceptions of the brand's quality and authenticity. As a family member of the original inventor, Reese's criticism carries weight and highlights the importance of maintaining the integrity of classic products.

The details

In an open letter, Brad Reese accused Hershey of 'quietly replacing' the milk chocolate and peanut butter ingredients that his grandfather, H.B. Reese, used to create the original Reese's Peanut Butter Cup in 1928. Reese says Hershey has substituted the signature components with 'compound coatings' and 'peanut-butter-style crèmes' across multiple Reese's products, fundamentally changing the taste. Reese says he finds some of the new Reese's products 'not edible' compared to the original candy he grew up eating.

  • H.B. Reese invented the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup in 1928 in the basement of his home in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
  • Brad Reese wrote an open letter to Hershey on Valentine's Day 2026 about his concerns over the recipe changes.

The players

H.B. Reese

The inventor of the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, who worked at Hershey for two years before forming his own candy company in 1919.

Brad Reese

The grandson of H.B. Reese, who has accused Hershey of 'quietly replacing' the signature chocolate and peanut butter ingredients that made Reese's Peanut Butter Cups iconic.

The Hershey Company

The chocolate company that acquired the Reese's brand after H.B. Reese's death, and is now being criticized by his grandson for changing the original recipe.

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What they’re saying

“My grandfather, H. B. REESE (Who Invented REESE'S), built REESE'S on a simple, enduring architecture: Milk Chocolate + Peanut Butter. Not a flavor idea. Not a marketing construct. A real, tangible product identity that consumers have trusted for a century.”

— Brad Reese, Grandson of Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Inventor (Open Letter)

“Reese's became iconic because my grandfather built it on real ingredients and real integrity.”

— Brad Reese, Grandson of Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Inventor (LinkedIn Post)

“It was not edible. You have to understand. I used to eat a Reese's product every day. This is very devastating for me.”

— Brad Reese, Grandson of Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Inventor (Associated Press Interview)

What’s next

Hershey has not indicated any plans to revert the Reese's recipe back to the original formula, but the company says it remains committed to protecting 'the essence of what makes Reese's unique and special'.

The takeaway

This dispute highlights the challenges iconic brands face in balancing innovation with preserving the core attributes that built consumer trust over generations. Reese's criticism underscores the importance of authenticity and staying true to a product's heritage, even as companies seek to adapt and expand their offerings.