M&S confirms it has discontinued a popular Christmas drink and shoppers are devastated
M&S has confirmed it has discontinued a popular Christmas drink and shoppers are demanding it’s brought back.
The popular retailer has ditched its Clementine Hot Chocolate this festive season.
The hot chocolate featured Belgian chocolate flakes with some citrus notes.
Shoppers loved the sweet drink – but unfortunately, M&S confirmed it had been discontinued.
A user on X begged for the retailer to bring the flavour back – saying how her family “hasn’t stopped talking about it for 2 years since Christmas 2022.”
M&S replied that they had passed the feedback onto their Food Team to let them know people want it back.
They added: “I know it’s sad when the items you love are discontinued!
“We do appreciate customer feedback, so hopefully it will be something the marketing team and suppliers consider for the future.”
M&S have been approached for comment.
It comes a mere few days after Cadbury’s confirmed it has discontinued a popular Christmas chocolate bar and shoppers are demanding it’s brought back.
The chocolate maker has ditched its Dairy Milk Winter Orange Crisp Chocolate Bar this festive season.
The 360g bar was made of smooth chocolate enhanced with tangy orange crisps, and it became a festive favourite for fans of the choclatier.
Shoppers previously labelled it “delicious” and “my favourite chocolate ever”.
It was released as the same time as the Dairy Milk winter mint crisp bar, which has also proved to be a hit with shoppers.
But this week, the manufacturer announced the bar has been withdrawn from shops to make way for more flavours.
It comes after one X user asked Cadbury if the bar would be returning to shelves this Christmas.
They wrote: “@CadburyUK will you be bringing back the orange festive crisp bar this year? Pleeeeeeasse.”
The company responded, writing: “Hi there, we’re always adapting our Christmas range to ensure there’s something new for everyone. This year, we’ve made a few updates we think you will love.
“We understand some will miss the Dairy Milk Orange Crisp Bar.
“Who knows, we might see them again next year. We hope this helps.”
The disappointed customer wrote back to say: “Fingers crossed it’s back next year! Me and my friends miss it!”
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.