Hershey's Candy Bar Loaf Cake

8 small Hershey's milk chocolate candy bars
1 cup butter
2 cups granulated sugar
4 eggs
2 1/2 cups cake flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup pecans

Melt candy. Cream butter. Add sugar and cream well. Add eggs, one at a time, heating thoroughly after each addition. Pour in the melted candy. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Bake in loaf pan or angel food pan for 70 minutes at 300 degrees F. No icing is needed, and a glaze is optional.