Reese's Halloween pumpkins hit shelves unchanged after lawsuit victory

Reese's iconic Halloween pumpkins are set to return to store shelves with their familiar smooth, oval shape, following Hershey's successful defense in a lawsuit that claimed the candy's appearance was a consumer letdown. The lawsuit, filed in 2024, alleged that Hershey's advertising was deceptive because the smiling pumpkin designs on the wrappers did not match the featureless candies inside.

However, a judge dismissed the lawsuit in September 2025, ruling that consumers could still enjoy the peanut butter and chocolate treats regardless of the wrapper's depiction. Katie DeCapria, senior brand manager for Halloween at Hershey, affirmed the company's commitment to the current design. "We know what consumers love," she stated during a press conference about the fall lineup. "We have not made any changes to the Reese's shapes." She emphasized that "the pumpkin is the cornerstone of our portfolio."

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We know what consumers love. We have not made any changes to the Reese's shapes.

This year marks Hershey's largest Halloween rollout, with 20 new themed products hitting stores this week. The company is capitalizing on the growing "summerween" trend, where consumers begin their Halloween celebrations and retailers release seasonal products as early as the summer months. According to the National Retail Federation, Halloween spending reached a record $13.1 billion in 2025, with about two-thirds of parents polled by Hershey having already purchased Halloween candy during the summer.

Alongside the classic Reese's pumpkins, Hershey's is reintroducing Hershey's cookies 'n' creme fangs and introducing KitKats shaped like a vampire and a witch. The company is also expanding into non-chocolate options with Halloween-themed popcorn and cheesy corn balls from LesserEvil. Reese's pumpkins remain a top-selling Halloween item for the company.

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The pumpkin is the cornerstone of our portfolio.