A biscuit baron has been forced to make a controversial change to a top product.
Irvings Homestyle Bakery in Castle Douglas has been making Empire biscuits for generations.
And, until recently, the icing on the sweet treat has been a dew drop.
However, a supply shortage means an alternative has had to be found.
And, after much deliberation, midget gems got the nod to take pride of place and adorn the top of thousands of biscuits produced every week.
But the move has caused a storm in a teacup among members of the biscuit-loving community – prompting the firm to take to social media to explain the change.
Bakery boss Keith Irving said: “We’ve had people asking why we had changed the sweetie on our biscuit and, like a lot of things in the economic climate just now, it’s a supply issue.
“The company that makes them must be having some production problems and have stopped manufacturing them, so instead of dew drops we’ve been using midget gems.
“Some people think it’s a nice change, a lot of people preferred the dew drops as they’re that used to them and midget gems are a harder sweetie.
For those who prefer a dew drop to a midget gem, the bakery has offered a crumb of comfort.
Keith added: “We heard late last week they are talking of resuming production in the New Year. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
