Cadbury has decided to discontinue one of its popular chocolate bars after sales for the product have been declining.
And some fans have admittedly been left “devastated” by the decision.
After already sparking outrage last year when it announced a reduction in the size of a classic Dairy Milk sharing chocolate bar by 10%, but keeping the price exactly the same as before, Cadbury appears to have angered consumers once again this week by confirming that declining popularity of one of its chocolate bars has led to it being axed.
That’s right, it’s officially time to say goodbye to the Dairy Milk 30% Less Sugar bar.
After a regular purchaser of Cadbury’s Dairy Milk 30% Less Sugar variation began noticing the bar disappearing from the shelves at his local Sainsbury’s store, he hopped on social media a couple of months ago to ask the retailer why this is the case.
Gary Cox wrote on X to Sainsbury’s: “Hi, I’m diabetic and have been enjoying Cadbury’s Dairy Milk 30% less sugar, but I have noticed recently that it has not been on your shelves. Are you no longer stocking it?”
@sainsburys Hi, I’m diabetic and have been enjoying Cadbury’s Dairy Milk 30% less sugar, but I have noticed recently that it has not been on your shelves, are you no longer stocking it?
After Mr Cox and several other aggrieved customers questioned Cadbury over the limited availability of the product nationwide, a spokesperson for Cadbury’s parent company, Mondelez, has now finally confirmed this week that it’s made the decision to “delist” the chocolate bar.
The Cadbury Dairy Milk 30% Less Sugar bar was first released in 2019, and was launched as the low-calorie healthier to Dairy Milk.
At the time of its initial release, the legendary chocolate makers claimed the product was just as “irresistibly smooth and creamy as our original Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate, but with 30% less sugar and satisfaction in every single mouthful”.
The Dairy Milk 30% Less Sugar bar, which has been axed by Cadbury / Credit: Cadbury UK
In a statement to The Sun, the spokesperson said: “Cadbury has been making much-loved treats for almost 200 years and this heritage means we have a deep understanding of our consumers, allowing us to continuously innovate and develop new products that meet their evolving tastes and preferences.
“In 2019, we launched Cadbury Dairy Milk 30% Less Sugar following significant investment over three years.
“We not only invested heavily in developing a bar that consumers told us tasted great, but also in promoting it through a nationwide marketing campaign, but despite these efforts, demand for this product has dropped.
“So we have sadly taken the decision to delist it.”
Cadbury discontinues popular Dairy Milk variation after sales decline / Credit: Lee McCoy (via Flickr)
Following the company‘s confirmation that the popular sweet treat has reached the end of the road, chocolate lovers – many of whom say they are diabetic, or have other dietary requirements – have taken to social media to express their outrage.
Some have even gone as far as to claiming they’re “devastated” by Cadbury’s decision.
One fan wrote in response: “I’m devastated they’ve pulled this option from shelves, it just seems like another decision to cut costs at the expense of quality or diverse choices. That’s my evening routine ruined”.
Northern Quarter favourite The Pen and Pencil announces massive 10th birthday party and huge offers
Daisy Jackson
The Pen and Pencil, an absolute staple for brunches and drinks in the Northern Quarter, is celebrating a major milestone this month with a huge party and some unbeatable deals.
The bar and restaurant will be marking 10 years on Tariff Street in September – and it’s only right that we all pile in to celebrate with them.
This spot is one of the city’s original bottomless brunch venues and is similarly famed for its happy hour offerings, and opened in 2015 to bring a taste of Manhattan to Manchester.
Pen and Pencil took its name from the infamous New York City bar that was seen in Mad Men.
And now as it turns 10 years old, it’ll be throwing one big party on Saturday 27 September, featuring 10 hours of DJs, free pints of Red Stripe at 10pm, and a special bottomless brunch offering.
Those DJing on the day will include Drag Race UK’s Banksie, as well as Les Croasdaile, Mark Hogg, Danny Ward and A Deeper Groove.
Pen & Pencil has amazing deals for its 10th birthdayPen & Pencil is a Northern Quarter OG
The Pen and Pencil 10th birthday party will kick off from 2pm and run until late – but if you can’t make that one, there’ll be celebrations all week (and, indeed, month) long.
On Tuesday 23 September, you’ll be able to play for double prize money in The Pen and Pencil quiz, as well as enjoying happy hour drinks all night.
Then on Friday 26 September, it’ll be an all-night happy hour, with free tequila shots at 10pm and music from DJs Nev Johnson and Gareth James from 7pm.
All September long, there’ll be 50% off food every Monday, two-for-£10 cocktails every Wednesday, £10 burgers every Thursday, happy hour all night on Fridays, 10 dishes for £10 and two bloody Marys for £10 on Sundays, plus DJs on Fridays and Saturdays.
There’s a new colourful art installation outside the venue inspired by the bar’s New York roots.
Owner Kevin Connor said: “We’re really excited to be celebrating being part of the Manchester community for ten years!
“New York’s Pen and Pencil was a classic steak and cocktail joint, and we’re proud to have created our very own iconic Northern Quarter hangout. We hope everyone will join us in celebrating ten years on Tariff Street.”
Walk-ins are welcome for The Pen and Pencil 10th birthday party on Saturday 27 September, but booking is encouraged – book your spot HERE.
Featured image: The Manc Group
Eats
Manchester restaurant to give out FREE katsu curries to people called ‘Kat’ or ‘Sue’
Emily Sergeant
In what is a small stroke of genius, a restaurant chain has decided to give out free katsu curries to anyone called ‘Kat’ or ‘Sue’.
Throughout September, award-winning restaurant chain Banana Tree – which has a Greater Manchester site down at Salford Quays – is shining the spotlight on its popular katsu creations, and as a clever way of celebrating National Katsu Day on 27 September has announced a pretty unique giveaway.
That’s right – the restaurant will be serving up katsu dishes to people called Kat, Sue, and every delicious variation of the names in between.
Anyone named Kat, Katie, Katherine, Sue, Suzy, Susan, Suzanne – or close enough to qualify, the list goes on – can head to their local Banana Tree restaurant, and all they’ll need to do is show proof of name and they can enjoy a free katsu dish of their choice, worth up to £16.75.
The chain’s kastu lineup includes three star dishes.
First there’s the much-loved Katsu Curry, as well as the all-new Katsu Burger, which is made from either a crispy chicken or veggie fillet, spicy mayo, puffed noodle crunch, and a drizzle of Katsu sauce tucked into a soft Shokupan bun with a side of salt n pepper chilli chips.
Then there’s also the intriguing newcomer, the Katsu Carbonara – which is described as being a daring East-meets-West mash-up and ‘unapologetically’ Banana Tree.
Banana Tree is giving away free katsu curries to people called ‘Kat’ or ‘Sue’ / Credit: Banana Tree
With each of these dishes usually priced around the £16 mark, the giveaway isn’t just a way of marking National Katsu Day, but it’s also a way to sample the some of the restaurant’s biggest crowd-pleasers entirely free of charge.
To avoid any confusion on who makes the cut, Banana Tree will reveal the full qualifying list of name variations on Instagram soon, so keep your eyes peeled.
“Our Katsu range is one of our proudest creations, so National Katsu Day felt like the perfect moment to have some fun with our fans,” a Banana Tree spokesperson said ahead of the giveaway.
The free katsu offer is available for four days only from Monday 22 to Thursday 25 September, and you just need to head to the Banana Tree website to sign up to the Big Flavour Club here.
Emily Sergeant -
5th October 2023 
