Michael Alexander

When the Financial Times starts using the REESE'S brand as a case study for "skimpflation," the conversation has officially moved out of the candy aisle and into the boardroom of The Hershey Company. For months, I’ve raised a simple governance question: What happens to a flagship brand like REESE'S when its extensions quietly drift away from the REESE'S ingredients that built its trust? The Financial Times now answers it plainly: The REESE'S line extension sprawl isn’t just a marketing choice; it’s a risk vector. A risk to the REESE'S brand equity. A risk to REESE'S consumer trust. A risk to REESE'S long‑term value creation. The Hershey Company continues to insist that "a broad offering of choices" strengthens REESE'S. But when so many of those offerings rely on chocolate‑style coatings and peanut‑butter‑style cremes, the issue isn’t variety. It’s veracity. This is the inflection point. Not for nostalgia. For governance, because the REESE'S brand is a promise. When the ingredients of REESE'S change, the REESE'S promise changes. And when the REESE'S promise changes, the market notices, as it should. My position remains unchanged: Protect REESE'S core. Protect REESE'S integrity. Protect the REESE'S trust that built the orange wrapper into a global icon. The Financial Times has now put that question squarely on the table. Boards, investors and REESE'S consumers will decide what happens next. What's your take? https://lnkd.in/ets_PMHG #FT #FinancialTimes #Reeses #TheHersheyCompany #BrandIntegrityCrisis #IngredientTruth #SkimpflationExposed #ConsumerTrustBreach #GovernanceFailure #FlagshipAtRisk #MarginEngineering #ValueDestruction #BoardAccountabilityNow

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TL:DR - "Overall, 60% of Americans say they're more likely to visit restaurants offering flexible, customizable, or innovative portion size options" https://lnkd.in/gCp4NXkp

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Alta Fresh Foods is your go-to resource for fresh food innovation, optimization of existing programs, and streamlined seasonal offerings. We provide tailored solutions for regional and national chains, as well as commissaries. As we expand our national programs with Tyler Deutsch , Derek Eddie , and Logan Nicely, we are excited to share our current offering sheet, which is ready to ship nationwide today. Produce Alliance, LLC., is proud to partner with us in this initiative.

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The 2026 protein market is shifting fast—beef prices remain high, pork and poultry offer stronger value, and egg costs are finally stabilizing. At the same time, operators are navigating evolving tariffs, freight uncertainty, and strong consumer demand for value‑driven, labor‑efficient menu items. One standout solution for the year ahead: Philly steaks—versatile, portion‑controlled, and perfectly aligned with 2026 menu trends. We broke down the full outlook, including pricing forecasts, tariff impacts, and menu strategies to help operators stay ahead this year. 👉 Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eEsQ4GQY

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