H. B. Reese

H. B. Reese

H. B. Reese

Harry Burnett Reese (May 24, 1879 – May 16, 1956) was an American inventor and businessman best known for creating the Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, a popular candy product. Reese was born in Frosty Hill, York County, Pennsylvania, and his innovative contributions to the confectionery industry have left a lasting legacy.

Early Life

Reese was born to Aquilla Asbury Reese and Annie Belinda Manifold Reese. He grew up in a large family and worked on the family farm during his early years. Reese married Blanche Edna Hyson in 1900, and they had sixteen children together.

Career

Reese initially worked in various jobs, including as a farmer and a factory worker. In the 1910s, he found employment with the Hershey Company, where he worked in the dairy department. Inspired by the success of Milton S. Hershey, Reese decided to venture into the candy business himself.

Founding of H.B. Reese Candy Company

In 1923, Reese founded the H.B. Reese Candy Company in the basement of his home in Hershey, Pennsylvania. He started by making a variety of candies, but his most successful product was the Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, which he introduced in 1928. The combination of chocolate and peanut butter quickly became a hit with consumers.

Success and Legacy

The success of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups led to the rapid growth of the H.B. Reese Candy Company. In 1963, seven years after Reese's death, the company was sold to the Hershey Company in a stock-for-stock merger. Today, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups remain one of the best-selling candies in the United States.

Reese's innovative approach to candy making and his entrepreneurial spirit have made him a significant figure in the history of American confectionery.

Death

H.B. Reese passed away on May 16, 1956, in West Palm Beach, Florida. He is buried in the Hershey Cemetery in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Related Pages

• Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
• Hershey Company
• Milton S. Hershey
• Confectionery
• Candy

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