Hershey Launches Plant-Based Versions of Iconic Products
Reese’s peanut butter cups and Hershey’s chocolate go plant-based, as the Hershey Company says more and more people are choosing animal-free alternatives.
Credit: The Hershey Company
Leading chocolatier The Hershey Company has announced two plant-based versions for some of its most popular products.
The demand for dairy-free chocolate is booming as an increased number of consumers are making food decisions based on animal welfare, health, and sustainability.
Now, the iconic Reese’s is the latest chocolatier to develop a near-identical version that’s made without any animal-derived ingredients. Its new Plant-Based Peanut Butter Cups are the brand’s first foray into the plant-based market, and are made using oat milk instead of dairy milk.
There’s also a new oat milk chocolate bar, with the launch of Hershey’s Plant Based Extra Creamy with Almonds and Sea Salt.
Coming to shelves nationwide this Spring, the two products follow a raft of global chocolate brands which have also entered the plant-based market in recent years, including Galaxy, Cadbury, and Lindt.
Less Demand for Dairy
From oat milk to dairy-free cheese, the availability and demand for dairy alternatives has grown substantially in the last decade. A major part of this trend is the increased awareness of sustainability issues. Cow’s milk is one of the foods with the highest carbon footprint, as the mass farming of cattle is linked to many destructive agricultural practises including planet-warming cow burps to the burning of rainforests to clear land for cattle grazing.
That climate impact is leading consumers to look for more sustainable alternatives to dairy foods, with the likes of oat milk, nut-based cheeses, and coconut-based yoghurt some of the popular choices starting to take a foothold in the traditional dairy sector.
Starbucks is among the big brands who are adding more and more dairy-free alternatives. Credit: Starbucks
The younger generation are said to be leading the drive for dairy alternatives. Nearly half (49 percent) of Gen Z felt ashamed to order dairy in public in front of their peers, according to a survey conducted by the dairy industry. And the same survey found that 57 percent said they planned to give up dairy in the next year.
For more inspiration on sustainable alternatives to cow’s milk, check out our Guide To The Tastiest Plant-Based Milks.
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