Cadbury chocolate fans warned after popular item 'vanishes' from shelves

Cadbury chocolate fans have been warned after a popular item "vanished" in the European Union market. French customers are facing eye-watering prices of €54.99 (£46) for packets of Cadbury Fingers amid widespread shortages, compared to their usual £1.80 cost in British shops.

“Give us back our Finger” ran the headline in Ouest France, France’s biggest selling daily newspaper. "Where have they gone?” it demanded. Libération reported: “Cadbury Fingers have disappeared from French shops and nobody told us."

News channel BFM-TV took up the story of the “mysterious disappearance of Fingers”. Le Monde, which said the news had left a “bitter taste” with customers and left nostalgic gourmets in a tizzy, sought an expert view of the “betrayal” from Sophie Thiron, a doctor in the sociology of food and emotions at the Jean Jaurès University in Toulouse.

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Thiron told the paper: “We trust industrial brands to give us a precise taste standard with each consumer experience and an attachment is formed as a result of these pleasurable experiences. When Cadbury withdraws its Fingers without warning, the trust established with the brand is shattered.”

A petition, meanwhile, created by a fan of the chocolate brand fumed: "Chocolate lovers and beloved Cadbury Fingers fans, they were taken from us in May 2024 when Mondelez decided to stop producing them. These delicious chocolate covered biscuits were more than just snacks to us, they were a tradition and a symbol of shared moments and enjoyment.

"According to Nielsen, Cadbury Fingers were one of the most popular snack products in the world. We value these little treats and that’s why we’re asking Mondelez to acknowledge our collective voice and restart production of Cadbury Fingers. Sign this petition to show Mondelez that we want our Cadbury Fingers back."

The petition has racked up 1,000 signatures towards its 1,500 goal.