HERSHEY, Pa. -- The Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup brand is taking some very un-Christmas-like heat for what some people say is the very untree-like shape of its special-edition holiday candy.
The candy is supposed to resemble a Christmas tree, but instead looks … like something else.
Social media has been abuzz with criticism--and ridicule--over the candy.
But representatives of the Reese’s brand have taken a proactive approach to turn the situation around.
The brand tweeted: “REESE'S celebrates trees of all shapes and sizes. It's not what it looks like, it's what it tastes like. #AllTreesAreBeautiful.”
Anna Lingeris, a spokesperson for The Hershey Co., told FoxNews.com that the seasonal shapes--which have been made the same way since their initial release over two decades ago--are created differently than the regular peanut butter cups and "have a higher ratio of peanut butter to chocolate."
She added that "these products are not solid chocolate made in molds, which would have a more distinct shape. They are soft peanut butter centers that are enrobed in chocolate, a process which by its nature creates a less distinct shape."
Despite the social media detractors, Lingeris said that seasonal shapes represent "more than a double-digit percent of the Reese’s annual sales and are growing," indicating that most fans love the classic chocolate peanut butter combo regardless of shape.
Hershey, based in Hershey, Pa., is a global confectionery company with more than 80 brands around the world that drive more than $7.4 billion in annual revenues, including Hershey's, Reese's, Hershey's Kisses, Jolly Rancher, Ice Breakers and Brookside.
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