"On Valentine's Day 2026, Brad Reese, the grandson of H.B. Reese, picked up a bag of Reese's Unwrapped Chocolate Peanut Butter Crème Mini Hearts, took a bite, and threw the bag in the garbage. 'It was not edible,' he told the Associated Press. 'You have no idea how devastating it is.' His post on LinkedIn drew 97,000 likes and more than 7 million views, igniting a conversation that reached major media outlets."
"Hershey declared it would bring the remaining sliver of its Reese's lineup made with compound coatings back in line with its classic milk chocolate and peanut butter recipes by 2027. A 12 billion dollar company jolted into a public about-face, not by a competitor, not by a regulatory mandate, not by a cratering earnings report - but by a 70-year-old man and a LinkedIn post."
In April 2026, Hershey announced it would revert to classic recipes for Reese's products after backlash from a LinkedIn post by Brad Reese, grandson of the brand's founder. His negative experience with a new product led to widespread media coverage and public outrage. The incident highlights the importance of brand trust and consumer feedback in the food industry. Hershey's response reflects a significant shift in corporate strategy, emphasizing the influence of individual voices in shaping brand decisions.
Read at Forbes
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