Chocolate lovers have voiced their disappointment over another change to Quality Street treats, with many sharing the same complaint about the new wrappers.
Shoppers have spotted a change to the mini treats, which have frequently come under fire in recent times as the size of their tubs has steadily decreased while prices have remained unchanged.
Reddit users share their frustration
One shopper took to Reddit to air their frustration, declaring that Quality Street look "so boring now". Alongside a snap of an open tub, they wrote: "Why did they change from shiny, colourful wrappers to this? What's Christmas-sy about this? It doesn't really feel like a treat any more."
Responding to the post, one person joked: "Why do I feel like I've grazed my knee when I open these chocolates? Because they're wrapped in the kind of paper used for plasters." A second quipped: "I think it's more akin to primary school toilet paper."
A third Reddit user admitted: "They just don't look as magical anymore without the foil wrappers. I don't buy them anymore." While a fourth slammed: "Agreed they look boring AF now... but also I remember the toffee fingers being the length of a finger! They look almost the same lengths as all the other chocs in here?"
Eco-friendly packaging acknowledged
It was also acknowledged that the updated packaging is more environmentally friendly. "The new wrappers are recyclable (as standard paper I believe)," one customer highlighted. "I honestly don't mind, I think the wrappers feel kinda sharp and more modern. Feels better than ending up with a pile of plastic anyway."
Currently, 550g tubs of Quality Street typically retail at £7 in supermarkets, though discounts can be secured through loyalty schemes such as Tesco Clubcard.
Background of packaging changes
Quality Street's wrappers first underwent an overhaul in 2022 after scrapping foil after 86 years of the 'Magic Moments'. Cheryl Allen, head of sustainability at Nestle, said at the time it "wasn't an easy decision".
"Quality Street is a brand that people feel very strongly about," she explained. "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."
Last year, in another eco-move, Nestlé switched some of its Quality Street tubs to plastic, meanwhile. "We're delighted to confirm that Quality Street is bringing back paper tubs in selected Tesco stores this Christmas," the manufacturer announced at the time. "The brand continues to evaluate the tub's popularity with shoppers, maintaining a view on innovative ways to improve the sustainability of its packaging."
Cheryl Allen, Head of Sustainability - Confectionery Europe at Nestlé, commented: "The Quality Street paper tub is an exciting innovation that we're really proud of here at Nestle Confectionery. We're committed to making our packaging more sustainable, keeping in mind the changing needs of shoppers and advancements in technology."
"Of course, with all potential packaging changes, we want to get it right, so this trial will bring us valuable information to inform our next steps as we keep pushing to reduce our use of virgin plastic."
