Quality Street chocolates are as much a part of Christmas as turkey and mince pies, so fans were outraged when they noticed a significant modification to their beloved chocolates.
In an effort to go green, the famed sweet sweets have removed their plastic wrapping.
They’re now wrapped in waxed paper, which, while recyclable, means they’re not as shiny and festive as they used to be.
The move was implemented last Christmas, however Quality Street just wrote on Facebook about their sustainable wrappers in honour of Recycle Week – and fans were quick to express their dismay.
‘Don’t like the wrappers,’ wrote one commenter. ‘Doesn’t feel like a special treat when you [open] the tub. A real let down. Won’t buy them again as they are no longer special.’
Others agreed: ‘You literally sucked all the joy out of Christmas,’ wrote one upset fan.
‘I just think they look drab,’ said another.
Quality Street has reacted to criticisms in the hopes of explaining why the adjustment was made.
Replying to various upset chocolate lovers, they said: ‘We have taken a lot of time and care to make the finish of the new wrappers as beautiful as before, and have kept the colours the same, so you’ll easily be able to spot your favourites in the mix!
‘Because we are using a completely new material, the wrappers do look different. However, we hope you’ll agree that being able to place them in your household recycling more than makes up for this.’
Other Facebook users, on the other hand, were more accepting of the new wraps.
‘Saving our planet is so much more important than a sweet wrapper, be it shiny or dull,’ wrote one eco-conscious user.
While another wrote: ‘I love the paper wrappers, all rather marvelous.’
Cheryl Allen, Nestle’s head of sustainability, stated last year that the business deliberated on the choice for a long time.
She said: ‘Quality Street is a brand that people feel very strongly about.
‘We know that opening the lid and seeing “the jewels”, as we call them, is really important.
‘We think we’ve done a really good job with the redesign, and feel confident that people will respond positively.’
