It’s been a turbulent week of separations.
First we learned that Hollywood super-couple Brangelina have filed for divorce, then Mary Berry pledged her loyalty to the BBC by officially departing the Channel 4-bound Great British Bake Off, and now – prepare for possibly the biggest bombshell of them all – Quality Street has announced that it’s mercilessly replacing one of its original chocolates.
Yep, it’s goodbye to the Toffee Deluxe – first introduced to the collection in 1919 – and hello to the new-age “Honeycomb Crunch”.
In fairness to Nestlé, it sounds as though the decision was largely down to customers complaining that Quality Street is too toffee-heavy; a ridiculous suggestion, but as Peep Show’s Super Hans famously warned us – you can’t trust people.
The Toffee Deluxe, in case you need reminding, is the chubby, chocolate-covered toffee in brown wrapper. The straight-up Toffee Penny and Chocolate Toffee Finger have survived the cull, and will remain in the selection.
RIP Toffee Deluxe, Christmas will never be the same pic.twitter.com/Y3GkNbK5B1
— Ian Davies (@djiandavies) September 23, 2016
Admittedly the Honeycomb Crunch – a barrel-shaped truffle filled with little chunks of honeycomb – does sound really quite tasty. Nestlé said they’re celebrating the 80th birthday of the legendary last-minute Christmas present by introducing the first new addition since 2007.
But a glance at social media will tell you that a lot of people are simply not having it.
First #Brangelina then #GBBO now toffee deluxe has gone from Quality Street #crazytimes #christmaswontbethesame
— Lucy Widdowson (@lucyawiddowson) September 23, 2016
Toffee deluxe ! Wrong decision to take #qualitystreet #sad
— Kirsty (@kirjo78_warl) September 23, 2016
Nah cannot take this year anymore. #GBBO now #QualityStreet have removed the Toffee Deluxe. I'm so done.
— emily (@emjayscholesx) September 23, 2016
https://twitter.com/yazmac/status/778000692908814336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Toffee Deluxe not being there anymore in a #QualityStreet chocolate box is such a heartbreak.
Bigger than #Brangelina breakup.— S (@PreservedSoul) September 23, 2016
When I heard #toffeedeluxe was gone from #qualitystreet pic.twitter.com/7twKAcxvMF
— Jay Elliott (@jay_elliott) September 23, 2016
Trust them to get rid of my favourite Quality Street, rip Toffee Deluxe
— joe(tweets by jonny) (@joe_whitehouse3) September 23, 2016
If you’re reading this and find yourself agreeing with those opposing the decision, it is possible for you to do something about it. A particularly passionate toffee enthusiast has launched a petition to bring the timeless chocolate back. Have a voice. Join the movement.
