Henry Burnett “H.B” Reese, born in 1879, is the creator of the delicacy known as the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup. Father of 16 children, Reese got his start in chocolate by responding to a help wanted ad for the Hershey dairy farm. In the 1920s, Reese began to create candies in his basement, naming his confections after his many children. When the candies began selling out at local markets, he left the Hershey farm to set up the H.B. Reese Candy Company. His most popular product was the “penny cup,” which was a chocolate and peanut butter combination also known as the peanut butter cup. They cost one penny each, and Reese began to sell them in bulk to local retailers. During World War II, the economy crashed, and Reese was forced to discontinue his other lines of candy to focus on the best seller, the peanut butter cup (Upton, 2013). Today, the design has evolved from the classic cup, branching off into different flavors (dark chocolate, hazelnut, marshmallow), different sizes (big cup, minis, half-pound cup), and even different products (Reese’s Pieces, Oreos, cereal). But, the original design of the classic cup is still what is most commonly thought of when one mentions a “Reese’s.” The bright orange packaging, the rigid paperboard trays, and the thin, black wrapper are extremely recognizable, making Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups one of the most iconic candies, launching the success of the combination of peanut butter and chocolate. Reese’s slogan continues to describe this candy flawlessly: “Perfect” (“Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, 2019). References “Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.” (2019, January 7). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reeses_Peanut_Butter_Cups Upton, K. (2013, June 30). “The Fascinating Rise Of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.” Retrieved from https://www.businessinsider.com/the-fascinating-rise-of-reeses-peanut-butter-cups-2013-6
