Reese's

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are an American candy consisting of a chocolate cup filled with peanut butter, marketed by The Hershey Company. They were created by H.B. Reese, a former dairy farmer and shipping foreman for Milton S. Hershey. Reese left his job with Hershey to start his own candy business in the 1920s. The H.B. Reese Candy Company was established in the basement of Reese's home in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups became his most popular candy, and eventually, the H.B. Reese Candy Company merged with the Hershey Chocolate Corporation in a tax-free stock-for-stock merger in 1963.

History

In 1928, H.B. Reese invented Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Reese was inspired by the contrasting flavors of sweet chocolate and salty peanut butter. After experimenting with different fillings, Reese found that peanut butter provided the perfect contrast to the milk chocolate. The product was initially sold in local markets and vending machines as penny cups.

The popularity of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups grew rapidly, and by the 1940s, they became a major product for the H.B. Reese Candy Company. During World War II, rationing made it difficult to produce many types of candy, but Reese's Peanut Butter Cups remained in production due to the availability of its main ingredients.

In 1963, the H.B. Reese Candy Company merged with the Hershey Chocolate Corporation, allowing Reese's products to be distributed nationwide. This merger helped Reese's Peanut Butter Cups become one of the best-selling candies in the United States.

Varieties

Over the years, The Hershey Company has introduced several variations of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, including:

• Reese's Pieces: Small peanut butter candy in a hard shell, introduced in 1978.
• Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Miniatures: A smaller version of the original peanut butter cups.
• Reese's Big Cup: A larger version of the peanut butter cup with more peanut butter filling.
• Reese's Stuffed with Pieces: Peanut butter cups filled with Reese's Pieces.
• Reese's White: White chocolate versions of the peanut butter cups.
• Reese's Dark: Dark chocolate versions of the peanut butter cups.

Cultural Impact

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups have had a significant impact on American culture. They are a staple of Halloween candy, often ranking as one of the most popular treats. The brand has also been involved in various marketing campaigns and collaborations with other products and media properties.

See Also

• The Hershey Company
• Peanut butter
• Chocolate
• Candy bar