Nestlé has announced it is ditching a highly coveted chocolate bar, leading many shoppers to vent their frustration online.
The confectionary giant is pulling its Vegan KitKat from shelves following a drop in demand. Instead of the traditional milk chocolate coating, it utilised rice-milk, making it more suitable for vegans and those who have a dairy/lactose intolerance.
The plant-based treat was launched in 2021 due to a surge in consumer demand for a vegan version of the iconic chocolate bar. It was also part of Nestlé’s strategy to achieve Net Zero by 2050, boasting an 18 percent lower carbon footprint than its traditional counterpart.
Despite its initial success, Nestle has revealed that dwindling global sales have led to the decision to pull it from shelves. As of writing, there is no exact date provided for when sales will stop in the UK, reports the Mirror.
A Nestlé spokesperson commented: “We know that KitKat Vegan has been popular for those looking for dairy or vegan alternatives. Unfortunately, global demand has been reducing to the point that production was making manufacturing more and more complex and we have now made the difficult decision to discontinue the product.
“We know there will be some disappointment, however it will still be available in the UK and Ireland until the summer.”
The decision to axe a popular chocolate bar has left consumers in an uproar, with many vexed parents taking to the Vegan Food UK Facebook group to lament their frustration.
One parent said: “No! You are just cruel! It’s one of the only nice tasting vegan chocolate products that my daughter can eat without an allergic reaction. We’ve been paying your over inflated prices for a long while and now you’re taking that little bit of pleasure away from her and so many thousands of others.”
Another disappointed shopper said: “Nooo! I love these, so do my kids! Maybe if they’d sold them in multi pack and brought the price down, and put them next to the regular Kit Kats instead of only in the ‘free from’ aisle.”
While the KitKat Vegan was a favourite for some, it didn’t quite win everyone’s hearts. Notably, it was pricier than the classic version, with Tesco selling the original four-finger bar at 75p compared to £1 for its vegan counterpart, while some weren’t keen on its use of dark chocolate.
While the discontinuation is sure to be a blow to some chocolate lovers, it’s not all bad news. Mars Wrigley has just announced the return of its iconic Milky Way Crispy Rolls that will now be joined by two new additions – Twix and Bounty.
The nostalgic chocolate duo, which was axed in 2022, features a chocolate covered crispy milk wafer and a soft filled centre. They are now available at Iceland stores, with other major supermarkets to follow from February 1.
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