Toblerone Discontinues Dark Chocolate Bar in the UK After Nearly Six Decades
|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Fans of Toblerone’s dark chocolate bar in the UK are facing disappointment as Mondelēz International, the brand’s parent company, has announced it will no longer produce the variant in the country.
The decision marks the end of an era for the beloved chocolate, which has been a staple on British shelves since its launch in 1969.
In a statement, Mondelēz acknowledged that the move may be “disappointing for some consumers” but described it as a “difficult decision” driven by “changing tastes.”
The company did not confirm whether the dark chocolate bar—made with 50% cocoa—would also be discontinued in other markets outside the UK.
A Rich History Comes to an End
The Toblerone brand has a storied past, first created in Switzerland in 1908 by Theodor Tobler and Emil Baumann. Its iconic triangular shape is said to have been inspired by the Matterhorn, the famous Alpine peak.
The dark chocolate version was introduced over six decades later, offering a richer alternative to the original milk chocolate bar.
Despite its long-standing presence, shifting consumer preferences have led to its removal from UK shelves.
The chocolate industry as a whole has faced significant challenges in recent years, particularly due to soaring cocoa prices. In December 2023, cocoa prices hit a record high, putting pressure on manufacturers.
Cocoa Crisis Hits Chocolate Makers
The surge in cocoa costs has been attributed to poor harvests in West Africa, the world’s leading cocoa-producing region.
Claire Burnet, co-founder of artisan chocolatier Chococo, explained that the rising prices have been “driven primarily by poor harvests from the two biggest cocoa-producing countries in the world that account for 60% of global production—Ghana and the Ivory Coast.”
Climate change, disease, and supply chain disruptions have exacerbated the issue, forcing many chocolate brands to either raise prices or discontinue less popular products.
While Toblerone’s classic milk chocolate bars remain available, the loss of the dark chocolate variant highlights the challenges facing the industry.
For now, British fans of the bittersweet bar will have to bid farewell to a decades-old favourite—unless they’re willing to hunt for remaining stock or seek it out abroad.
Whether Mondelēz will reconsider its decision in the future remains uncertain, but for now, the UK’s dark chocolate lovers will have one fewer option to satisfy their cravings.