Asda has officially relaunched Puffin bars, its own-brand chocolate biscuit that first hit stores 30 years ago. Individually wrapped, each bar features a biscuit centre coated in chocolate. Photos of the bars back on shelves began circulating on social media on August 17. For £1, customers can buy a pack of eight Puffin bars.
Controversial history with McVitie's
The return comes after a contentious court case in 1997. Shortly after the Puffin bar was launched, McVitie's took Asda to court, suing the supermarket chain for creating a product it claimed was confusingly similar to its Penguin bar. From the packaging to the recipe itself, McVitie's argued that Asda had deliberately designed the Puffin bar to confuse consumers.
Ultimately, the judge mostly cleared Asda of direct trademark infringement. The supermarket was allowed to keep the 'Puffin' name and sell existing stock, but was forced to redesign the product's packaging.
Mixed reactions from shoppers
Reactions to the relaunch have been mixed. One Facebook user, Heberdavid Martin, reacted to the news by stating: 'Basically it's just a cheap Asda version of a Penguin chocolate biscuit'. @Adrianmoore4 on Instagram added: 'Meh, we've got Penguins and Tim Tams – why do we need another of these types of chocolate biscuit?'
A few users also expressed disappointment in seeing the phrase 'chocolate-flavoured' on the packaging, with one individual noting: 'It's not real chocolate so I won't be buying'. Towards the end of last year, rising cocoa prices led a number of brands to use alternative ingredients, meaning some products were no longer eligible to be classed as chocolate.
Nevertheless, many people seem pleased to see Puffin bars back on shelves. Jess Young-Vicks shared on Facebook: 'I remember these! I'll be filling my pockets!' While @livingthelifeofsam added: 'They need to bring the mint Puffin back! They were the best ones, my nana always had them in her fridge when I was a kid'.
Own-brand appeal
The launch follows new research from Asda that more than eight in ten Brits (84%) say they're more open to trying own-brand versions of their favourite snacks than they were five years ago. The supermarket's survey also revealed that 85% say they enjoy the satisfaction of discovering a great own-brand alternative, with three in ten (30%) saying the real prize is finding one that tastes better than the branded original.
