Fans of Bounty bars have been left fuming after Mars Wrigley announced it would remove the coconut chocolate from certain Celebrations tubs this Christmas. The move comes after 39 percent of consumers said they wanted Bounty bars to be axed for good.
Customers will be able to swap tubs bought at selected Tesco Christmas Market sites for a Bounty-free alternative until December 18. The ‘No Bounty’ boxes will feature extra Mars, Snickers, Milky Way, Galaxy and Maltesers sweets instead.
But the move is proving controversial with chocolate fans, who have shared their thoughts on Facebook - and many have slammed the decision. On the M.E.N.'s Facebook page, Susan Keenan said: “I won’t be buying them, Bounty was my favourite” while John Kidd wrote: “Bountys rule, should be more not less!”
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For many Bounty fans its decisiveness works in their favour, as Stacey Knowles points out: “But that’s not fair... That’s the only way I get to have any, none of the kids like the Bounty ones so they save ‘em for me.” Mike Ball suggested that they should produce Bounty-only tubs instead.
Yet the news was welcomed by a lot of Celebrations fans. Kathryn Wing-Taylor said: “Personally I am glad as I can't stand Bounty!” and Christine Tebb: “Good I hate Bounty bars.” Paul Hart added: “Nothing more disappointing than opening up a tub of celebrations to be faced with all the leftover Bountys.”
Some Bounty fans were so distraught that they called for other flavours to be axed instead - with Milky Way taking a particular beating. Sue Pawly said on Facebook: “I can’t stand Milky Ways in those tubs, but they will be staying I assume. Bring back Bounty!” Sandra Hildebrandt added: “It’s the Milky Way that needs to go.”
Christina Hand urged for the return of the greatly-missed Galaxy Truffles, describing them as “by far the best”, while Amanda Powell suggested they introduce another type to stop the tubs from being “boring”. Tracey Nuttall added: “Nooo definitely get rid of Mars! I love Bounty.”
Whether you’re a fan of Bounty bars, or not, there’s one thing that’s certain, summed up perfectly by Jim Greer’s comment: “They are the Marmite of chocolate bars.”
The first place you'll be able to buy them is the Tesco Extra in Baguley, Wythenshawe. It'll then roll out across 40 Tesco Christmas Market locations, ending at Gallions Reach Extra in London on December 18.
Mars Wrigley said its own research of 2,000 Britons aged between 18 and 65 suggested that 18% would feel irritated to find only Bounty bars were left in the tub, while 58% believed it would lead to a family argument. While 39% wanted the bars gone for good, 22% liked Bounty the least of all the tub's options. Some 28% were of the opinion that coconut had no place in a chocolate bar at all.
It follows a Bounty Return Scheme last year, in which Bounty-haters were able to return their unwanted chocolates and swap them for Maltesers after the Christmas period. Celebrations senior brand manager Emily Owen said: "Last year, we gave customers the opportunity to return their unwanted Bounty chocolates.
"Now, off the back of public demand, we're trialling taking them out of the tub altogether. You don't know what you’ve got until it's gone. And to those loyal – and secret – Bounty lovers out there, there's still a chance they'll make a return after the trial."
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