Toblerone dark chocolate bar to be discontinued in the UK after nearly 60 years

LONDON: Mars Delight, Cadbury Dream, and Rowntree’s Texan are just a few of the nostalgic chocolate bars that have been phased out over the years, and now the dark chocolate Toblerone is set to join them after nearly 60 years.

The iconic triangular chocolate bar, infused with almond and honey, has been a mainstay in supermarkets and airport duty-free shops, but it will no longer be available in the UK.

A spokesperson for Mondelēz, the manufacturer of Toblerone, stated that the decision to discontinue the 360g dark chocolate bar was a “difficult” one, citing “changing tastes” among consumers. They acknowledged that this news may disappoint some fans but reaffirmed their commitment to investing in the Toblerone brand. The spokesperson did not clarify whether the product would be discontinued in markets outside the UK.

This announcement comes just as the UK prepared for the Easter bank holiday weekend, a peak time for chocolate sales. By Friday afternoon, the dark chocolate Toblerone was already sold out on the Waitrose website, prompting social media users to encourage others to stock up, reported the Guardian.

The name Toblerone is thought to be a combination of the surname of its creator, Theodor Tobler, and “torrone,” a type of toasted almond nougat typically enjoyed in Christmas traditions in parts of southern Europe.

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This isn’t the first time Toblerone has made headlines. In 2023, Mondelēz revealed that the packaging featuring the Matterhorn mountain would be changed due to some production moving outside Switzerland. In 2016, they also altered the spacing between the chocolate’s iconic triangular pieces.

The discontinuation of the dark chocolate Toblerone follows a trend of beloved chocolate bars vanishing from store shelves. Last year, Nestlé announced it was discontinuing Breakaway bars due to declining sales of the once-popular lunchbox item. In 2022, the Milky Way Crispy Rolls were phased out but have since made a comeback earlier this year, including newer versions like Bounty and Twix.

The news about Toblerone also coincides with a rising popularity for “Dubai chocolate,” which features a pistachio cream filling combined with knafeh, a traditional Middle Eastern dessert made from shredded filo dough. Lindor has launched its own version at a price of £10 per bar, while Lidl has introduced a more budget-friendly option at £4.99, which quickly sold out as shoppers flocked to the stores.

Additionally, cocoa prices have surged, reaching record highs in December, which has contributed to a 13.6 percent increase in chocolate prices as reported by the Office for National Statistics.

Moreover, many products have not only seen price hikes but have also been reduced in size. The investigation noted that a white chocolate Twix Easter egg from Tesco went from £5 to £6 while its weight decreased from 316g to 258g, representing a 47% increase in price per 100g. Additionally, a five-pack of mixed 200g Cadbury Creme Eggs at Morrisons rose from £2.62 last year to £4 this year.