Reese's Pieces

Reese's Pieces are a peanut butter candy manufactured by The Hershey Company; they are oblate spheroid in shape and covered in candy shells that are colored yellow, orange, or brown. They can be purchased in plastic packets, cardboard boxes, or cup-shaped travel containers. The Reese company was founded by H.B. Reese. The H.B. Reese Candy Company was merged with The Hershey Company in 1963.

Reese's Pieces
TypeConfectionery
InventorThe Hershey Company
InceptionSeptember 1978 (1978-09)
ManufacturerThe Hershey Company
Current supplierThe Hershey Company
Models madeStandard candy, Mini candies, baking chips
Websitehersheyland.com/reeses-pieces/

Overview

The candy was introduced to the US market first in September 1978.[1][2] Shortly after, Reese's Pieces were introduced to the Canada market in 1980.[3] The then relatively new product became very popular with the 1982 release of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, in which the candy is featured.[4]

Reese's Pieces were introduced in the UK in 1996,[5] but are produced in the US.[6]

Reese's Pieces are a product extension of the Reese's Peanut Butter Cups line; they were designed to capitalize on the success of the chocolate-covered peanut butter cups, though unlike the cups, they have no chocolate.[7]

Variations

Reese's Pieces has been included in many Reese's and Hershey's products since its introduction. Below is a list of available products that contain Reese's Pieces, from the candy pieces being stuffed inside of existing chocolate bar variations to bags of baking chip mixes.

Currently Available Products Containing Reese's Pieces
ProductDescriptionSizesIngredientsNutrition ValueYear Introduced
Reese's Pieces A peanut butter candy in bite-size pieces containing Reese's peanut butter wrapped in a crunchy shell
  • standard size
  • bag
  • box
 Sugar, partially defatted peanuts, hydrogenated vegetable oil palm kernel oil, soybean oil, corn syrup Solids, dextrose, Contains 2% Less of: corn syrup, palm kernel oil, salt, confectioner's glaze, modified corn starch, lecithin soy, artificial colorants yellow 6 lake, yellow 5 lake, red 40 lake, blue 1 lake, vanillin, artificial flavor, carnauba wax, milk[8]
Reese's Pieces
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy836.8 kJ (200.0 kcal)
25 g
Sugars21 g
Dietary fibre0 g
9 g
Saturated8 g
Trans0 g
4 g
VitaminsQuantity
%DV†
Vitamin A equiv.
0%
0 μg
Vitamin C
0%
0 mg
MineralsQuantity
%DV†
Calcium
0%
0 mg
Iron
31%
4 mg
Sodium
3%
45 mg
Amounts converted and rounded to be relative to 38 g serving.
†Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults.
Source:
September 1978[9]
Reese's Pieces Peanut The original Reese's Pieces candies with the inclusion of peanuts.
  • bag
 Sugar, Peanuts, Partially Defatted Peanuts, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (Palm Kernel And Soybean Oil), Corn Syrup

Contains 2% Or Less Of: Dextrose, Artificial Color (Yellow 5 Lake, Yellow 6 Lake, Red 40 Lake, Blue 1 Lake), Palm Kernel Oil, Confectioner's Glaze, Cornstarch, Modified Cornstarch, Salt, Lecithin (Soy), Carnauba Wax, Vanillin (Artificial Flavor), Milk. [10]
Reese's Pieces Peanut Butter with Peanut
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy120 kJ (29 kcal)
56 g
Sugars46 g
28 g
Saturated15 g
Trans0.0 g
13 g
VitaminsQuantity
%DV†
Vitamin A equiv.
0%
0 μg
Vitamin C
0%
0 mg
MineralsQuantity
%DV†
Calcium
0%
0 mg
Iron
14%
1.8 mg
Sodium
10%
154 mg
Other constituentsQuantity
Cholesterol0.0 mg
†Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults.
Source:
1980s [11]
Reese's Mini Pieces Baking Chips Mini Reese's Pieces peanut butter candy for baking
  • bag
 Sugar, Partially Defatted Peanuts, Hydrogenated, Vegetable Oil, Palm Kernel Oil, Soybean Oil, Corn Syrup Solids, Dextrose, Contains 2% or Less of: Palm Kernel Oil, Corn Syrup, Artificial Color, Yellow 6 Lake, Yellow 5 Lake, Red 40 Lake, Blue 1 Lake, Cornstarch, Salt, Confectioner's Glaze, Lecithin, Modified Cornstarch, Carnauba Wax, Vanillin (ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR), Milk [12]
Reese's Pieces Minis Peanut Butter Candies
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy292.88 kJ (70.00 kcal)
10 g
Sugars8 g
Dietary fibre0 g
3.5 g
Saturated3 g
Trans0 g
2 g
VitaminsQuantity
%DV†
Vitamin A equiv.
0%
0 μg
Vitamin D
0%
0 μg
MineralsQuantity
%DV†
Calcium
1%
10 mg
Iron
2%
0.3 mg
Potassium
1%
40 mg
Sodium
1%
15 mg
Amounts converted and rounded to be relative to 15 g serving.
†Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults.
Source:
2003[13]
Reese's Baking Cups and Reese's Pieces Candy A mixture of mini Reese's Pieces peanut butter candies and mini Reese's Peanut Butter cups for baking
  • bag
 Milk Chocolate, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Chocolate, Skim Milk, Milk Fat, Lactose, Lecithin, PGPR, Sugar, Partially Defatted Peanuts, Peanuts, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Palm Kernel Oil, Palm Oil, Soybean Oil, Dextrose, Corn Syrup Solids

Contains 2% or Less of: Cocoa Butter, Palm Kernel Oil, Salt, Corn Syrup, Confectioner's Glaze, Lecithin, Modified Cornstarch, Artificial Color, Yellow 6 Lake, Yellow 5 Lake, Red 40 Lake, Blue 1 Lake, PGPR, Vanillin (ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR), Carnauba Wax, TBHQ (Preservative), Citric Acid (TO MAINTAIN FRESHNESS)[14]
Reese's Baking Cups and Reese's Pieces Candy
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy58.5289 kJ (13.9887 kcal)
9 g
Sugars8 g
Dietary fibre0 g
4 g
Saturated2.5 g
Trans0 g
1 g
VitaminsQuantity
%DV†
Vitamin A equiv.
0%
0 μg
Vitamin D
0%
0 μg
MineralsQuantity
%DV†
Calcium
1%
10 mg
Iron
3%
0.4 mg
Potassium
1%
45 mg
Sodium
2%
25 mg
Amounts converted and rounded to be relative to 15 g serving.
†Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults.
Source:
2018[15]

Production
A yellow Reese's Piece cut in half, showing the peanut butter inside

In the 1970s, the candies were produced by The Hershey Company using panning machines that had been used to make Hershey-ets, a chocolate-filled candy that had been discontinued. The candy was first called "PBs" and was later rechristened as Reese's Pieces.[16] Designers wanted a peanut-flavored candy but had problems with the filling. Original plans called for filling the candy shells with peanut butter, but the oil leaked out into the shell, leaving it soft, rather than crunchy.

The developer of the project turned the problem over to a team of outside scientists, who created a peanut-flavored penuche filling.[17] More experimentation was needed to determine the correct thickness of the shell. Finally, the colors of the candy coating were designed to coordinate with the color of the Reese's package. The color distribution goal is 50% orange, 25% brown, and 25% yellow.[18]

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

In 1982, the Mars candy bar company rejected a product placement offer for the inclusion of its key product M&M's in the Steven Spielberg film, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Hershey accepted an offer for use of Reese's Pieces in the movie, and with the film's blockbuster success its product sales dramatically increased, perhaps as much as 300%.[19]

Product line expansion

In 2010, The Hershey Company expanded the Pieces line to include York Peppermint Pattie Pieces, Hershey's Special Dark Pieces, and Almond Joy Pieces.[20] Hershey's Milk Chocolate with Almonds Pieces became the fourth expansion of this line in 2012.[21]

See also

References
  1. "Celebrate Pennsylvania!". Candy Industry. 2008-08-15.
  2. Smith, Andrew F. Encyclopedia of Junk Food and Fast Food. p. 228.
  3. "Outer space gives Hershey a nice little plug". The Montreal Gazette. 1982-08-13.
  4. David van Biema (1983-07-26). "Life is Sweet for Jack Dowd as Spielberg's Hit Film Has E.T. Lovers Picking up the (Reese's) Pieces". People.
  5. Berry, Steve; Norman, Phil (2014). A History of Sweets in 50 Wrappers. London: The Friday Project. p. 75. ISBN 9780007575480.
  6. "Reeses Pieces Peanut Butter at Morrisons". Morrisons. Archived from the original on 2017-11-07. Retrieved 2017-07-12.
  7. "Lose weight & improve your health with a real food diet - Fooducate". www.fooducate.com. Archived from the original on 2016-08-06. Retrieved 2016-08-06.
  8. "Reese's Peanut Butter Pieces Candy". Innit. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  9. "REESE'S | REESE'S Pieces Candy | Products". www.hersheys.com. The Hershey Company. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  10. "Reese's Pieces, Peanuts". nutritionix. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  11. Liebig, Jason (1 February 2017). "The Secret History of Reese's Pieces with Peanuts!". CollectingCandy. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  12. "REESE'S PIECES - Minis Peanut Butter Candies - SmartLabel™". smartlabel.hersheys.com. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  13. "Products – Page 2 – Hershey Community Archives". Hershey Archives. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  14. "REESE'S - Baking Cups and REESE'S PIECES Candy - SmartLabel™". Smart Label. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  15. Fitzpatrick, Caitlyn (2 July 2019). "Reese's Is Making Baking Cups And Pieces That Will Completely Upgrade Your Chocolate Chip Cookies". Delish. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  16. "Reese's Pieces: E.T.'s Favorite Candy – Hershey Community Archives".
  17. Brenner, Joel Glenn (2000). The emperors of chocolate: inside the secret world of Hershey and Mars. Broadway Books. p. 274.
  18. Livermore, Sienna (24 October 2016). "7 Things You Need To Know Before Eating Reese's Pieces". delish.com. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  19. Snopes: Taking it E.T.
    Business by its very nature is cut-throat; competitors rarely aid one another because one company's success almost invariably comes at the expense of the other's vitality. When such leg-ups occur, they are often inadvertent — the result of one firm's having failed to take advantage of an opportunity that its competitor later cleaned up on. Such was the case when Mars, Inc. passed on the chance for its flagship product, M&Ms, to be the candy used in 1982 film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Its turn-down cleared the way for Hershey Foods Corporation to make a remarkable splash for its Reese's Pieces.
  20. "Candy Makers Cut the Calories, by Cutting the Size". The New York Times. 2010-02-16. Archived from the original on 2016-08-12. Retrieved 2017-02-25.
  21. "Candy Tease November 2011". Candy Blog. 2010-08-11. Archived from the original on 2012-05-25. Retrieved 2012-07-07.
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