Which company introduced the chocolate-and-peanut-butter candy Reese’s Pieces in 1978?

The Hershey Company introduced the chocolate-and-peanut-butter candy Reese’s Pieces in 1978.

Reese’s Pieces are small, candy-coated pieces with a peanut-butter center and a colorful outer shell. The product extended the Reese’s brand, which had already become known for peanut-butter cups. Hershey introduced the candy in the United States in 1978.

The confection became especially famous after appearing prominently in the 1982 film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. That placement helped turn Reese’s Pieces into a widely recognized pop-culture product, although the candy itself predates the film by several years.

Reese’s Pieces are sometimes confused with M&M’s because both are colorful, candy-coated chocolate-style sweets. Their fillings distinguish them: M&M’s are commonly associated with chocolate or peanut centers, while Reese’s Pieces have a peanut-butter center and do not use a chocolate center in the same way.