Nestle has been accused of ruining Christmas by taking away its sparkle by some sweet-toothed lovers who noticed the brand has made a major change to Quality Street chocolates.
The selection boxes used to be sold in metal tins before also being offered in plastic tubs in 2013.
Last year, the packaging was changed again, and the chocolates were sold in cardboard tubs. This year, the chocolates will be available in both plastic and cardboard containers.
Now eagle-eyed shoppers have noticed that for the second year running, they will be sold in paper packaging once more – a move that has divided opinion among confectionary lovers, according to the Sun.
According to a Nestle spokesperson: ‘We’re delighted to confirm that Quality Street is bringing back paper tubs in selected Tesco stores this Christmas.
‘The brand continues to evaluate the tub’s popularity with shoppers, maintaining a view on innovative ways to improve the sustainability of its packaging.’
While some fans are keen on the more eco-friendly packaging, others were less enthusiastic.
Quality Street Chocolates (pictured) are a common Christmas treat for many people – but some fans aren’t happy about some changes to the product
According to the Sun, one took to a post about the paper box, to write: ‘Just when we thought we couldn’t sink any lower as a nation.’
Another felt the move had taken ‘the sparkle and excitement out of Christmas’.
And earlier this year, in a post on X (formerly Twitter) an angry chocolate lover simply said the new wrapping had ‘Ruined Christmas…’
But not all agreed, with one reportedly saying ‘awesome work Nestle’ when the move was first announced last year.
It comes after Nestle has revealed its goal to make all of its packaging recyclable this year. One of its main steps towards achieving this was changing the wrappers on each individual chocolate in October 2022.
Instead of using its traditional plastic and foil, Quality Street used a more environmentally-friendly waxed paper wrapper.
Another change chocolate fans have noticed is the changing price of the product – tubs last years weighed 600g, but this has now been reduced to 550g.
Since each sweet varies in weight, it is unclear by how many treats each tub will lose. Manufacturers have blamed the reduction on the rising cost of production and ingredients.
A spokesperson for Nestlé has said that the company believes its ‘2025 range and pricing is competitive with a good variety of choice for Quality Street fans’
A spokesperson for Nestlé previously told Metro it is common for the brand to switch up the size of its containers from year to year.
They said: ‘Each year we introduce a new Quality Street range with formats, sizes, weights and RRPs based on a range of factors including the cost of manufacturing, ingredients and transport and the preferences of our customers and consumers,’ they detailed.
‘We think our 2025 range and pricing is competitive with a good variety of choice for Quality Street fans. Final prices are at the discretion of individual retailers.’
The new-sized chocolate boxes are currently on sale at Sainsbury’s and Morrisons for £7. Meanwhile, Tesco Clubcard holders can pick up a tub for £4.50.
Since the changes were made, shoppers have taken to social media to lament their frustrations at the cut in contents.
Writing on Facebook, one joked that there would ‘soon just be [a] box with 12 in,’ while others insisted they would no longer be buying them.
One wrote: ‘Well I won’t be buying any of these rip off tubs,’ while another remarked, ‘shrunk but still charge more’.
A fourth said: ‘I stopped buying when the first “downsizing” began. Just boycott these greedy companies. Better for our health too!’
