Heaven for some, hell for others, Mars’ coconut-filled and chocolate-covered Bounty is always the most controversial chocolate in the tin at Christmas time – and its creators have finally acknowledged this with the creation of a return scheme.
Mars, the maker behind the Celebrations tin and its ‘most hated’ coconut-filled candy, has seemingly accepted the poor old Bounty’s fate after a recent survey found 52% of people admitted to leaving them for last and 32% chuck them away after Christmas.
So now, instead of letting them go to waste, Mars has launched a Bounty return scheme that will allow Christmas chocolate lovers to swap their unwanted bars out for alternatives in January 2022.
Celebrations has launched a Bounty ‘return scheme’ for ‘most hated’ chocolate in tin / Image: Open Food Facts
Those who find themselves strongly opposed to the soft coconut and chocolate delight will be able to exchange the bars for Maltesers at selected Co-Ops in major cities including Manchester from 17 January.
To really hammer home the poor old plight of the Bounty, and perhaps even create some sympathy for the unloved chocolate bar, Mars has even gone so far as to create an advert in an attempt to sway public opinion and save it from getting axed from the tin altogether.
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Called ‘The Lonely Bounty’, the tongue-in-cheek 1 and a half minute advert depicts a tearful, rejected Bounty man spending Christmas all alone – that is until his equally-hated Christmas counterpart appears holding cards covered with a Love Actually-style message of hope.
A Love Actually-style message of hope saves the day as the brussel sprout and Bounty find one another / Image: Mars / Youtube
Soundtracked by a mournful cover of In the Bleak Midwinter, the ad begins with the Bounty looking for love online but finding no matches.
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We see him sitting alone in a park, at a school play, then a romantic restaurant, where he blows out his candle all alone before he’s finally shown sobbing on his sofa.
It seems all hope is lost, then there’s a sudden ring on the doorbell. It’s the brussel sprout, who in a nod to one of the UK’s favourite Christmas films is holding up a card reading “call me old fashioned”.
The next proceeds to say “but I wouldn’t go out with any of these guys”, before showing a picture of all of the other (more popular) Celebrations chocolates.
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Ultimately, the pair find love and walk off down the street hand in hand – showing that whilst many dislike a Bounty for some, there’s nothing better.
Mars added following the ‘return scheme’ announcement: “No Bountys will be sent to landfill as a result of the returns.”
Home Bargains has announced a special two-day closure of all UK stores
Emily Sergeant
Home Bargains has, once again, announced it’ll be closing all its UK stores on both Boxing Day and New Year’s Day this year.
And it’s to make sure staff get a ‘well deserved break’.
After what has been yet another busy year for the retail industry, many workers have been left feeling like they could do with a little extra time off, which is why Home Bargains is following on with what has become a now-annual tradition by shutting up shop on two bank holidays.
All of our stores will be closing for Boxing Day & New Years Day.
Announcing the move in a post on social media, the discount retailer confirmed: “All of our stores will be closing for Boxing Day and New Years Day. We would like to thank all our colleagues for how hard you have worked this past year, and want you to relax and enjoy the Christmas break with your loved ones.”
Of course, this isn’t the first time the retailer has kept its doors shut on bank holidays.
Many shoppers will recall it has made the same decision to give hardworking staff a break every year since 2019.
Explaining a little more about the decision taken to close all its stores, Home Bargains said: “As a family-run business, we know the importance of being together at Christmas with those we care about most, now more than ever.
“This is our way of saying thank you to our colleagues for their continued hard work and dedication.”
Featured Image – Geograph
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Two Greggs in Manchester will be serving their breakfast menu in the evening next week
Emily Sergeant
Who says breakfast has to end at 11am?
In news that’s set to be music to the ears of breakfast lovers in Manchester, Greggs is giving them exactly what they want.
We all know that brunch is a ‘thing’ by now, so now it’s time for brinner to make a name for itself instead, as Greggs has teamed up with Heinz to bring its much-loved breakfast menu back for tea time, kicking off from 4pm onwards.
The move comes as a new survey has found that the majority of Mancs (69%) admit to enjoying eating breakfast food in the evening, saying it’s ‘convenient and comforting’ – even ranking breakfast as a ‘more important’ meal than tea, as well (38% vs 36%).
Two Greggs in Manchester will be serving their breakfast menu in the evening next week / Credit: Greggs (Supplied)
Greggs says it has ‘lost count’ of the amount of customers that have tried to order breakfast items after the usual cut-off time, especially in Greater Manchester.
But luckily for those breakfast-loving Mancs, they can finally get their favourite breakfast and sauce pairing long after the morning rush is over next… but only at two Greggs branches, and only for a very limited time.
On Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 October, the Heinz x Greggs Brinner collab will be available at Greggs St Mary’s Gate and Greggs Oxford Road, from 4-7pm only.
“We’ve lost count of the number of customers who have tried their luck ordering breakfast after 11am, so when Heinz came to us with the idea of making Brinner a reality, it felt like the perfect excuse to give the people what they want,” explained Zoe Harris, who is the Customer Director at Greggs.
“And let’s be honest, a Greggs Bacon Roll just wouldn’t be the same without a squeeze of Heinz Tomato Ketchup.”
Georgina Pellant -
10th November 2021 
