The return of a popular £5 Australian selection box to B&M stores has sparked a festive frenzy, but not all shoppers are sweet on the contents. While many are delighted to get their hands on rare treats, a vocal group of customers, including Australians, feel the retailer has missed the mark by excluding some of the nation's most beloved chocolate bars.
What's Inside The Controversial Box?
Found in the festive gift aisle, the Aussie Treat Bundle contains five full-sized chocolate bars, offering a tempting alternative to traditional selection boxes that often feature fun-sized options. For a fiver, shoppers get a taste of Down Under with the following lineup:
Mars Rasberry Smash
Cadbury Dream with Oreo
Milky Top Freddo
Caramilk-infused Twirl
Scorched Peanut Bar
This year's bundle, spotted in stores this November, includes two new items compared to the previous year's selection. Despite its bold orange packaging, the box is surprisingly compact, making it a potential challenge to spot on crowded shelves.
Aussie Fans Voice Their Disappointment
The debate ignited on the New Foods UK Facebook page, where hundreds of people shared their strong opinions on what constitutes a proper Australian chocolate selection. The consensus among critics was clear: several iconic treats were conspicuously absent.
One exasperated shopper declared, "I cannot believe they didn’t include Cherry Ripes!" Another suggested, "They should have added the Cadbury Caramello Koalas!" The absence of Tim Tams also drew criticism, with one person stating, "Can't be Australia's favourite chocolate without Tim Tams!"
An Australian expat weighed in, claiming, "As an Aussie, that has totally missed the mark!" while another lamented the lack of a Violet Crumble bar. However, the selection wasn't without its defenders. One Australian commenter countered, "All of them are good and that’s coming from an Australian," and another praised the "sensational" Oreo Dream bar.
Learning From Past Mistakes
This is not the first time B&M has offered an international chocolate box. The lineup has been tweaked from the previous year, which featured a slightly different assortment including Cadbury's Milk Chocolate Drops and a Peanut Brownie Snickers.
B&M also appears to have learned from a packaging confusion in 2024, where some shoppers were misled by the design into believing the box contained 10 bars instead of the actual five.
For those hoping to snag one of these divisive treat boxes, a trip to your local B&M is essential, as the complete collection of affordable gifts, including this one, is not available online. The store is currently promoting its Black Friday tech sale, with significant price cuts on various electrical items and gadgets, often undercutting major rivals like Argos, Currys, and John Lewis.
