Hershey's Announces Vegan, Oat-Based Versions of Beloved Chocolate Treats

Hershey's enters the vegan arena with new plant-based candy.

Hershey's and Reese's are officially joining the plant-based movement with new vegan products.

The Hershey Company announced that it's starting off its vegan offerings with Reese's Plant Based Peanut Butter Cups and Hershey's Plant Based Extra Creamy with Almonds and Sea Salt. The new candies are made with oats instead of milk.

Reese's Plant Based Peanut Butter Cups arrive on shelves in March, while Hershey's Plant Based Extra Creamy with Almonds and Sea Salt will be available sometime in April.

In a press release, Teal Liu, Brand Manager of Better For You, The Hershey Company, commented on the new products, saying, "We are excited to introduce these delicious, plant-based options. Our purpose is to create more moments of goodness for consumers. Those moments are now more accessible for chocolate lovers looking for plant-based alternatives."

Hershey's previously tested an oat-based chocolate bar called Oat Made in 2021 in some markets, but the two announced candies are part of the new Plant Based line of products.

If the vegan Reese's and Hershey's are successful, there are sure to be more vegan versions to follow.

Another fan-favorite chocolate treat, Kit Kat, is also produced by the Hershey Company, but only in the U.S. Globally, Nestlé produces Kit Kats, and it released a vegan version last summer.

The Hershey Company also makes and distributes the popular Cadbury-branded chocolate in the U.S., but not around the world. Like with Kit Kat, there is already a vegan version of Cadbury available internationally.

Following Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Hershey's Plant Based Extra Creamy with Almonds and Sea Salt, the Kit Kat would be a great choice for the next product in the Plant Based line for the U.S.

Many different companies have started offering vegan and organic products to keep up with consumers' increasing desire for them, so it's no surprise that Hershey is doing the same.