One of Britain's favourite lunchbox treats is swimming into the sunset for good, as McVitie's confirms the permanent disappearance of its Club Penguin chocolate biscuits from supermarket shelves.
The iconic fish-shaped biscuits, coated in creamy chocolate, have fallen victim to the unprecedented surge in global cocoa prices that's sending shockwaves through the confectionery industry.
The Cocoa Crisis Bites Hard
Global cocoa prices have more than doubled over the past year, reaching record highs that have left manufacturers grappling with impossible decisions. Poor harvests in West Africa, combined with rising production costs, have created a perfect storm that's making chocolate production increasingly unsustainable at current price points.
"We regularly review our range to ensure we're offering products that remain affordable for our customers," a spokesperson for Pladis, McVitie's parent company, revealed. "Sometimes this means we have to make the difficult decision to discontinue products."
Not the First Casualty
Club Penguin joins a growing list of chocolate treats that have vanished from UK supermarkets in recent months. The beloved biscuit follows in the flippers of other casualties including:
- Toblerone's triangular chocolate bars (reduced in size)
- Various Cadbury selection box favourites
- Multiple supermarket own-brand chocolate lines
Industry analysts warn that this trend is likely to continue as manufacturers struggle to absorb costs that show no signs of abating.
Consumer Backlash and Nostalgia
The announcement has sparked waves of nostalgia and disappointment across social media platforms, with many Britons mourning the loss of a childhood favourite.
"My kids have these in their lunchboxes every day - they'll be devastated," one parent commented online, while another lamented, "Another piece of my childhood gone. First the Orange Club, now this."
The disappearance of Club Penguin biscuits represents more than just another product discontinuation - it signals a fundamental shift in how affordable chocolate snacks can remain in an era of skyrocketing ingredient costs.
As supermarket shelves gradually empty of the cheerful penguin-shaped packages, consumers are left wondering which chocolate treat might be next to face extinction in the great cocoa crisis of 2025.
