POPULAR Nestle chocolate Smarties buttons are no longer produced.
Fans of the sweet treat say they were hunted up and down and the ax destroyed them.
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Smarties buttons are no longer producedCredit: nestle
The treat consisted of a delicious combination of milk chocolate buttons with crunchy bits, but maker Nestle said it now wants to focus on its core Smarties products.
The decision comes as a blow to fans, including one who took to social media last month to ask Nestle where they went.
He said: “Have smart buttons been discontinued? I love them, but I can never find them anymore, and when I look at the links to buy them, all the outlets show me that they are out of stock. Any idea where I can get some?”
The product was introduced in 2020 as a “reimagined” treat for chocolate lovers with “special memories” of Smarties.
It has since earned rave reviews, including one on the Tesco website which raved: “I opened the pack and ended up eating them all at once. I couldn’t stop!!”
Another added: “Nice way to extend the Smarties brand for a more chocolaty treat for smarties!”
At the time of their launch, Alberto Pisanello, brand manager for Smarties, said: “We know that Smarties hold special memories for so many people, and are much loved for their bright colours, taste and texture.
“At the same time, consumers are telling us they like their favorite brands to keep things fresh with exciting innovations and new varieties to try.”
He added that they offered all the fun, color and crunch of Smarties, wrapped in smooth milk, white or orange flavored chocolate gumbo.
Later, a gold version was introduced.
But this week manufacturer Nestle said: “We are waving goodbye to Smarties Buttons which we know has been a much loved product and we appreciate the support it has received.
“However, we have taken the decision to discontinue it as we focus on our core Smarties products.
“Smarties fans may want to keep an eye out for the new giant tube of Smarties Elf Treats, hitting stores just in time for Christmas.”
Smarties have a fascinatingly long history.
Originally released in 1882 under the name Chocolate Beans, they were renamed Smarties Chocolate Beans in 1938.
Smarties ceased production during the war, but resumed production in January 1946, although regular chocolate often had to be used instead of milk due to shortages.
The treats remained popular, but are now no longer sold in their iconic cylindrical cardboard tubes, which came with a colorful plastic lid.
The packaging design was changed to a hexagonal one in 2005, in order to keep the brand “fresh”, and the lid was replaced with a cardboard clip for environmental reasons.
Meanwhile, customers are also pleading with Nestle to bring back ‘elite’ chocolate taken off shelves more than 10 years ago.
But it’s not all bad news for fans as the brand has confirmed it has brought back the iconic chocolate bar which was discontinued after six decades – and customers are buzzing.
Chocoladnica has re-introduced three variants of its Caramac bar on the shelves.
It comes after Cadbury confirmed the “best bar ever” would not be returning after customers wailed “that’s all we need”.
How to save on chocolate
We all like a little chocolate now and then, but you don’t have to break the bank buying your favorite bar.
Consumer journalist Sam Walker reveals how to cut costs…
Choose your own brand – if you’re not too concerned about taste and just want to suppress your chocolate cravings, you’ll save money by opting for supermarket own brand bars.
Shop – if you’ve spotted your favorite variety in the supermarket, be sure to check if it’s cheaper elsewhere.
Websites such as Trolley.co.uk allow you to compare product prices across all the major chains to see if you’re getting the best deal.
Watch out for yellow stickers – supermarket staff put yellow and sometimes orange and red stickers on products to show they are discounted.
They usually do this if the product is about to expire or the packaging is slightly damaged.
Buy bigger bars – usually, but not always, chocolate is cheaper per 100g the bigger the bar.
So if you have an appetite and were going to buy a hefty amount of chocolate anyway, you might as well go bigger.
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: HIS Education