For generations, a bite of a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup meant one thing:Milk chocolate. Real peanut butter. That unmistakable taste. Now, many loyal fans say something is different.In this episode, we sit down with Brad Reese, grandson of H. B. Reese and self-appointed “Protector of Reese’s Brand Integrity,” to unpack a controversy that has caught the world’s attention.Brad and others are upset about the current quality of Reese’s products under Hershey’s control, pointing to a shift in taste and either proven or alleged ingredient swaps. Emotions are high - people love Reese’s. They want real answers.This isn’t just about candy.It’s about trust, heritage, and a beloved company at a cultural tension point with its best customers.What Sparked the Controversy?Brad published an open letter to Hershey’s on LinkedIn calling out what he and many consumers observed: Certain varieties no longer list milk chocolate Some now use “chocolate candy,” “chocolatey coating,” or compound coating Peanut butter replaced in some products with “peanut butter creme” Ingredient changes implemented quietly, without announcement While The Hershey Company has publicly stated that core ingredients have not changed, consumers began comparing labels and conducting side-by-side taste tests online.The consumer pushback and Hershey’s response quickly went viral, drawing attention from major media outlets and even commentary from MrBeast while promoting his own line of Feastibles.A Powerful Quote from Brad“They’re stooping for pennies and passing up dollars.”Subscribe for more deep dives where we fix big business problems with fresh perspectives.Brad Reesehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/bradreesecom/• Website – www.wefixeditpod.com• Follow us on:Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/wefixeditpodLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/wefixeditpodYouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@WeFixedItPodIf you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your friends!Keep listening to find out how we fix companies and put them back better than we found them.DisclaimerA quick disclaimer. We are going into this somewhat cold and nothing we say should be construed as legal advice, financial advice or anything that would get us in trouble. These are our views and opinions. We're here to ask the kinds of questions everyone's thinking. Have an engaging conversation and maybe come to some conclusions that we feel are worth exploring. By the end, if we fixed it, you're welcome. All trademarks, IP and brand elements discussed are property of their respective owners.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Reese’s Controversy with Brad Reese

Spotify

For generations, a bite of a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup meant one thing:Milk chocolate. Real peanut butter. That unmistakable taste. Now, many loyal fans say something is different.In this episode, we sit down with Brad Reese, grandson of H. B. Reese and self-appointed “Protector of Reese’s Brand Integrity,” to unpack a controversy that has caught the world’s attention.Brad and others are upset about the current quality of Reese’s products under Hershey’s control, pointing to a shift in taste and either proven or alleged ingredient swaps. Emotions are high - people love Reese’s. They want real answers.This isn’t just about candy.It’s about trust, heritage, and a beloved company at a cultural tension point with its best customers.What Sparked the Controversy?Brad published an open letter to Hershey’s on LinkedIn calling out what he and many consumers observed: Certain varieties no longer list milk chocolate  Some now use “chocolate candy,” “chocolatey coating,” or compound coating  Peanut butter replaced in some products with “peanut butter creme”  Ingredient changes implemented quietly, without announcement While The Hershey Company has publicly stated that core ingredients have not changed, consumers began comparing labels and conducting side-by-side taste tests online.The consumer pushback and Hershey’s response quickly went viral, drawing attention from major media outlets and even commentary from MrBeast while promoting his own line of Feastibles.A Powerful Quote from Brad“They’re stooping for pennies and passing up dollars.”Subscribe for more deep dives where we fix big business problems with fresh perspectives.Brad Reesehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/bradreesecom/• Website – www.wefixeditpod.com• Follow us on:Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/wefixeditpodLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/wefixeditpodYouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@WeFixedItPodIf you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your friends!Keep listening to find out how we fix companies and put them back better than we found them.DisclaimerA quick disclaimer. We are going into this somewhat cold and nothing we say should be construed as legal advice, financial advice or anything that would get us in trouble. These are our views and opinions. We're here to ask the kinds of questions everyone's thinking. Have an engaging conversation and maybe come to some conclusions that we feel are worth exploring. By the end, if we fixed it, you're welcome. All trademarks, IP and brand elements discussed are property of their respective owners.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Armchair quarterbacking isn’t just for sports anymore. We’re taking the same approach to companies: what would you do in their shoes? Each episode, our lively panel will debate a new issue ripped from the headlines involving a different well-known company. Between our instincts, experiences, and unsolicited opinions, we may just come up with gold. At the end, we’ll critique ourselves and see how we did. If we fixed it, you’re welcome! Season 3 launched January 20, 2026. Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode!

We Fixed It, You're Welcome

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