M&S axes ‘all time favourite’ Percy Pig sweets leaving shoppers devastated
M&S has axed some of its popular Percy Pig sweets – leading to desperate calls for them to be reinstated.
Percy Pig Phizzy Chews earned rave reviews before they were scrapped in the brand’s recent confectionery overhaul in July.
After their launch in 2020, customers heaped on the praise, with one saying: “You have outdone yourself with these Percy Phizzy Chews!! Where can I buy a box?”
Another added: “Discovering M&S Percy Pig Phizzy Chews for the first time was like discovering fire. How have I lived without these for so long?? I feel like I need a lifetime supply… “
And a third raved: “I have tested many sweets and candies from around the globe for many years and these are quite incredible. There isn’t another texture like it.
“They must remain in production for the rest of eternity!”
But the sweets appear to have faded in popularity since their promising start, with M&S deciding to scrap them in July.
The move made way for the return of Reversy Percy sweets, which are a backwards version of the classic Percy Pig treats, with more jelly than foam.
But the disappearance of the Percy Pig Phizzy Chews has not gone unnoticed.
Superfan Brad on X moaned: “I’ve been into five different stores now and they are nowhere to be seen!
“They were my all time favourite sweets and I don’t know what I am going to do without them!”
Another complained: “These were the best Percy Pigs and so gutted to see them go. Please please bring them back.”
The Percy Pig character has an enormous product range, including at least 10 different types of sweets.
The pig-shaped sour chews were made with fruit juice and came in a variety of colours and flavours.
More than five million packets of Percy Pig sweets are sold every year, with the character also appearing on clothing, cosmetic products and party gear.
For those missing the Phizzy Chews, Percy Pig Phizzy Pigtails are a similar alternative.
The chews were not the only product to face the axe.
This summer, M&S also ditched its Colin and Connie “Together Forever” fruit gums, meaning Connie the caterpillar no longer appears in the caterpillar sweet range.
Percy Pig is not only a loved treat, but also a fierce topic of debate.
Five years ago, M&S sparked both outrage and praise when it announced it had been turning its entire Percy sweets range vegetarian, with the change happening over several years.
Many social media users claimed the taste was no longer the same and called for M&S to retain both vegetarian and the original versions, which contained gelatine.
But after the store invited 100 Percy Pig lovers to a panel vote, a 60% majority voted to keep the sweet meat-fee.
The store is continuing to innovate Percy, with its many variations including seasonal additions such as “Percy meets the Easter Bunny”, “Merry Percymas” and “Pumpkin Percy” for Halloween.
Why are products axed or recipes changed?
ANALYSIS by chief consumer reporter James Flanders.
Food and drinks makers have been known to tweak their recipes or axe items altogether.
They often say that this is down to the changing tastes of customers.
There are several reasons why this could be done.
For example, government regulation, like the “sugar tax,” forces firms to change their recipes.
Some manufacturers might choose to tweak ingredients to cut costs.
They may opt for a cheaper alternative, especially when costs are rising to keep prices stable.
For example, Tango Cherry disappeared from shelves in 2018.
It has recently returned after six years away but as a sugar-free version.
Fanta removed sweetener from its sugar-free alternative earlier this year.
Suntory tweaked the flavour of its flagship Lucozade Original and Orange energy drinks.
While the amount of sugar in every bottle remains unchanged, the supplier swapped out the sweetener aspartame for sucralose.