  
Reese's Pieces are a peanut butter-flavored candy manufactured by The Hershey Company for the North American market. They are circular in shape, and covered in candy shells that are colored either yellow, orange, or brown. The candy was introduced in 1978, and launched throughout the United States in 1980.
Steven Spielberg originally approached Mars with the idea of product placement of M&M's in his upcoming movie, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982). Mars declined the offer. Spielberg later approached the Hershey Chocolate Company, who turned down the idea of using their flagship product Hershey's Kisses but chose to use Reese's Pieces instead. Immediately after the movie was released, sales of Reese's Pieces increased by 65%.
Reese's Pieces are a product extension of the Reese's Peanut Butter Cups line; this new product was designed to capitalize on the success of the chocolate-covered peanut butter cups.
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