ONE per cent, two per cent, hot cross buns. . .

Easter is just around the corner, which means it’s time to enjoy the traditional seasonal treats.

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But if you’re tired of the simple roasted berry roll, try the flavor with a new twist.

Laura Stott tries out a selection of unexpected, hot cross creations and rates them out of five. . .

Hot Cross Bun Loaf, 400g, £1.20, Sainsbury’s (in selected stores)

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THIS is truly a genius idea. All the taste and flavors of a classic Easter bun, but baked in a traditional bread shape.

It’s packed with currants and fruity bits, smells absolutely delicious and has the same sweet icing and cross on the top so you definitely feel like you’re getting the Easter dining experience.

It is very easy to cut and tastes delicious with a generous dash of butter, either toasted or cold straight from the bread.

Moreover, it cleverly avoids the risk of your buns burning in the toaster.

Fantastic value for money, you get a lot more for your lollipop per portion than you would for a typical pack of rolls.

It also lasted well – so all in all a fun idea!

Score: 5/5

Mr Kipling Hot Cross Pies, 6 pies, £2, tesco.com

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FRUITY individually wrapped, sweet cakes from a favorite cake manufacturer that make a nice Easter change from chocolate eggs or a typical currant bun.

They are made with a spiced filling and are mainly apple flavored, but also contain a fair amount of sultanas and sultanas.

However, there is also a pleasant buzz from cinnamon.

The delicious buttery and soft shortcrust pastry in the brand’s recognizable style was sweet, but not overly so.

Although the cakes are a bit on the small side, one portion yields a decent portion.

Somewhere between an Easter cake and a Christmas cake, these make a nice change for spring celebrations.

Score: 3/5

M&S Choccy Hot Cross Bites, 128g, £2.25, M&S stores and ocado.com

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Bringing all the delicious Easter flavors together in one bag of treats, these little chocolate-fruity morsels are very moorish and make a lovely alternative to mini sugar eggs.

Made from fudge coated with milky choc. When you take a bite you will find spicy notes of raisins, orange jelly nibs and light spices with hints of caraway and cloves.

Very sweet, and perhaps too saccharine for my taste, but if you have a sweet tooth you will love them.

They are very easy to scoff when you fancy something to nibble with your tea.

But while they are tasty, I’m not sure they mimic the taste of a traditional fruity toasted sandwich.

Score: 2/5

Hot Cross Tarts, 4 x 190g, £3.25, Sainsbury.co.uk

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FOUR individually portioned hot cross bun flavored tarts, ideal to enjoy with your cup of tea during the holidays.

Each treat is made with gluten- and dairy-free sweet pastries, so even people with food intolerances can indulge.

They are filled with spiced syrup sponge and raisins, finished with sweet dust.

Good size, so one is the ideal portion, and with a satisfying, smooth taste not unlike that of a treacle or gingerbread tart, but with a little added spice.

The dough may be a little dry, but the sticky, soft filling works well to disguise this.

A cozy Easter alternative and extremely filling.

Score: 4/5

Hot Cross Bunettone, 500g, £8, Waitrose stores

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At £8, this Easter extravaganza from the posh supermarket isn’t the cheapest spring cake around.

In fairness to the store though, it’s huge, so you get a whopping amount for your money.

If you’re planning a large gathering and need a lot, this isn’t a bad price.

Fusing a panettone with a hot cross bun, you get a light, tasty, spiced Italian cake with butter, raisins and candied orange peel for extra spring flavors.

Cut it into pieces and eat it like a cake, then this will be a real table centerpiece.

It even comes with a bag of icing sugar and a stencil so you or the kids can decorate it at home.

Score: 3/5

Joe & Seph’s Hot Cross Bun Popcorn, 75g, £4, joeandsephs.co.uk

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If you fancy something really original among your warm cross flavors, these bun flavored roasted seed packets are a new way to enjoy the taste of Easter.

The huge, fluffy pieces of popcorn are coated in sweet caramel and taste of mixed herbs and fruits, including lemon and apple.

The aroma is incredible, and once you open the packet it’s very hard to stop eating – but they taste quite strongly of cinnamon, so if you’re not a fan of the spice you might not be too keen.

They are also not as sweet as I expected.

Delicious as a snack while watching an Easter movie, or just to spot on the couch.

Score: 3/5

Hot Cross Bun loose tea, 50g, £7.55, birdandblendtea.com

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INSTEAD of a toasted Easter bun with your warm bevvie mid-afternoon, why not try brewing one to drink?

This pack of loose-leaf hot cross cuppas is certainly different and will be a real talking point to offer to guests, or a quirky spring gift, but the taste will divide the crowd – and personally I didn’t enjoy sipping it that much.

A rooibos blend packed with cinnamon, apple, hibiscus, rose hips and orange peels, which can be enjoyed hot or cold, with or without milk, once it has been brewed in the usual way.

If you like herbal tea, this is well made, with quality ingredients.

The flavor is strong, but that wasn’t for me and it’s not cheap, so I’ll stick to eating my sandwiches and not eating them.

Score: 1/5

Divine Milk Choc Hot Cross bar, 180g, £3.59, various suppliers and divinechocolate.com

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A pleasant change from standard Easter eggs or regular hot cross buns, this generous chunky chocolate bar offers a mix of both flavors.

Delicious, soft and creamy Fairtrade 32 percent cocoa milk chocolate packed with delicious plump raisins and tasty spicy biscuit pieces that really give you a spicy hint as they melt on your tongue.

Very tasty and made with excellent quality ingredients that deliver the flavors they promise.

The large limited edition bar is ideal for sharing or passing around on the sofa.

Or keep it to yourself and just break off a few squares to enjoy as a change from the classic roasted berry treat.

Score: 3/5

CHOCOLATE overload at Easter is a given, but this year why not swap your favorite cocoa egg for a grown-up, boozy treat?

Aldi has just launched a new drink inspired by the famous Cadbury Creme Egg.

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Featuring the milk chocolate and vanilla flavors of the fondant, mixed with liqueur, the Ballycastle chocolate cream liqueur is in stores now and is expected to sell out, priced at £7.69 for 70cl.

Drinks guru Helena Nicklin tried and rated the Easter egg-themed Bevvie, along with other sweet drinks on the market this spring, with a score of a five.

Asda Extra Special – 4/5 (Espresso martini chocolate, cream liqueur, 70cl, £8)

FANS who love a boozy, chocolatey, caffeine-filled cocktail will really enjoy this creamy, ready-to-drink option.

The contents of the bottle are beautifully balanced, with just enough coffee and chocolate flavor.

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It’s ridiculously delicious and not too sugary like normal espresso martini cocktails can be.

Aldi Ballycastle – 4/5 (Chocolate Cream Liqueur, 70cl, £7.69)

AS A liqueur aimed at Creme Egg lovers, you expect something super sweet here – and you certainly get that.

The fondant flavor is striking with its notes of vanilla and white chocolate.

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The consistency may be slightly thicker, so serve over ice or mix into a cocktail.

Great for Easter – and at a great price.

M&S Salted Caramel – 5/5 (Brownie Liqueur, 70cl, up to £10 in price drop)

Do you LOVE a freshly baked salted caramel brownie?

You won’t be disappointed with this delicious liqueur from M&S.

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There are lots of cakey flavors and although it is sweeter than many others, it is perfectly balanced with the saltiness of the caramel.

With the price drop to ten euros, this is definitely worth a try.

Rubis Chocolate Wine – 3/5 (50cl, £17, Ocado)

FINE wine purists may look away in horror at this, but they shouldn’t.

This is a vino made with the Rioja grape tempranillo, fortified like port and blended with cocoa essence.

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It shouldn’t work, but somehow it does.

It’s more like a liqueur in the glass: you can drink it chilled over ice, but it can also work in cocktails.

Hotel Chocolat – 1/5 (Velvet chocolate cream, 500ml, £22 – £18 with Clubcard – Tesco)

I had high hopes for this, as the big brand Hotel Chocolat should really be the choccy experts, especially at the high price.

But unfortunately not so.

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This liqueur is thin and sugary when you pour and drink it and tastes like cheap chocolate milk with a splash of vodka in it.

Not luxurious enough for the name – and not for the price tag either.

Tiptree Choc Orange – 3/5 (Liqueur, 35cl, £19.99, Amazon & Master of Malt)

A NICE looking bottle with an element of surprise as the liquid is clear.

Super sweet with lots of vanilla essence, there’s not much orange in it but it’s still enjoyable.

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I would liken this to boozy mini eggs in a bottle with their sugary shells – perfect for Easter.

Cacao Wonderland – 4/5 (Chocolate Porter, 440ml, £3.25, Morrisons)

A CHOCCY beer is not traditional and can therefore rightly attract strange looks if you brew it at Easter.

But with a dark porter, the addition of choc works like a dream.

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This one is delicious, with tons of chocca-mocha flavor that blends seamlessly with the malty brew.

One for porter purists, but also with universal appeal.

Asda Extra Special – 3/5 (Blonde chocolate cream liqueur, £8, 70cl)

BLONDE chocolate is the trend this spring.

What it means is a creamier, milkier, white choc feeling in your glass.

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This drink was the richest drink of the bunch that I tried. Pampering with a hint of vanilla.

I think it could have used a little more flavor, but it’s still drinkable.

ROWNTREE’S has launched a new treat for Easter and fans are rushing to Morrisons to stock up.

Typically, a chocolate company makes its most popular brands in the shape of an Easter egg and encases it with smaller versions of the chocolate bar inside.

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However, Rowntree’s have put a different spin on it and included a sharing bag of their Randoms sweets.

A post on the Facebook group Newfoodsuk says: “New Rowntree’s Randoms Incredible Egg!!

“This egg is filled with delicious pieces of mixed fruit and marshmallows in the shell!

“Deffo our kind of Easter egg! Now available at Morrisons!”

Morrisons, Asda and Iceland are all currently selling the choccy treat for £10, while Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Ocado are selling them for £12, according to Trolley.co.uk.

Although if Sainsbury’s and Tesco shoppers have their respective loyalty cards, the price drops to £10.

Fans can enjoy a milk chocolate egg with mixed fruit and marshmallow inclusions, along with a bag of random candies.

Most commenters online seemed excited about the new Easter egg.

One wrote: “This is what I want for Easter” and tagged her friend.

Another said: “I’ve had mine since the end of January…almost time to enjoy it.”

While a third simply added: “Yummy.”

Although there was the odd dissenting voice, with one posting: “I don’t see the gummy pieces working with chocolate.”

It comes as major retailers are engaged in a price war and are slashing the price of Easter eggs.

An expert has revealed the exact day you should buy your Easter eggs to get the best price.

And this week there are numerous supermarkets and chains offering eggs for less after Asda stopped stocking them for 60p.

We’ve scoured the shelves to find the least expensive place to buy Cadbury, Lindt and Nestle eggs so you don’t have to.

Prices may also vary from day to day and supermarkets may choose to offer certain items.

In other news, Cadbury is giving away a “free” Cadbury Easter egg for £12.

Additionally, the new Terry’s Chocolate Orange flavor, which “tastes better than the original,” is generating excitement among shoppers.

Unfortunately, chocolate manufacturers are cutting back on Easter eggs and raising prices – as the cost of cocoa has reached a 40-year high.

EASTER is still weeks away, but there are already a host of retailers offering eggs cheaply.

Retailers have been competing for the best deals on sweet treats since the start of the year.

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And this week there are numerous supermarkets and chains offering eggs for less after Asda stopped stocking them for 60p.

The retailer cut prices by more than half from £1.25 last week, but the deal ended yesterday.

We’ve scoured the shelves to find the least expensive place to buy Cadbury, Lindt and Nestle eggs so you don’t have to.

Please note that the prices found are based on online prices and may not be the same at your local branch.

Prices may also vary from day to day and supermarkets may choose to offer certain items.

And of course, don’t forget to shop around when buying the sweet treats, because you might find them cheaper than we did.

For example, websites like trolley.co.uk allow you to compare prices on thousands of products from different retailers to find the best deals.

There is also Price Spy and Price Runner which allow you to compare prices on thousands of products.

Price Spy even lets you track how much a particular item sold for last year, so you can find out if you’re getting the best price right now.

Lindt

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Two major supermarkets have reduced prices on a number of Lindt chocolate Easter eggs this week.

Tesco Clubcard and Sainsbury’s Nectar card customers can get a discount on the sweet treats.

You can sign up for both loyalty programs for free and download the app on your smartphone, or request a physical card.

Both programs offer points on your purchases that you can use to get cash at future stores.

Tesco is selling a 260g Lindor white chocolate egg with white chocolate truffles for £10, and £12.50 for customers without a Clubcard.

The next cheapest options after that are Asda and Ocado, both of which sell the egg for £12.

Sainsbury’s and Tesco are also both selling a 260g Lindor milk chocolate egg with salted caramel truffles for £10 for customers with a loyalty card.

After that, the next cheapest supermarkets are Ocado and Asda, which sell it for £12, and then Morrisons, which has it for £12.50.

Sainsbury’s is also selling a 195g Lindt Gold Bunny milk chocolate egg for £9 to anyone with a Nectar card.

Tesco sells the same egg for £10, while Morrisons and Ocado both sell it for the same price.

Cadbury

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If you’re looking for cheap Cadbury eggs, there are a few different supermarkets offering the best prices this week.

Despite Asda ending its deal offering 60p eggs on March 10, it is still the cheapest place to buy a 96g Freddo Easter egg.

It comes with a small egg and a selection of iconic Freddo chocolates inside and retails for £1.25.

The next cheapest options are Morrisons, Iceland, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Ocado, all selling it for £1.50.

Tesco is also selling a 241g Cadbury Dairy milk Twirl egg carton for £3.50 to Clubcard customers, making it the cheapest among a number of retailers this week.

If you’re looking to buy in bulk, it might be worth heading to Asda or Ocado.

Asda has a four for £10 offer on a host of Cadbury eggs. We spotted no fewer than nine species where you can take advantage of the offer.

Shoppers can also purchase a Twirl egg carton, Mini Egg carton and Caramel carton.

Ocado also has a similar deal where foodies can buy two eggs for £5 instead of £3 each, saving £1.

Both deals mean you get the eggs for £2.50 each, but keep in mind you’ll need to buy at least two or four, so you’ll spend more in total than if you’d bought one individually.

Nesting

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If you’re looking for cheap Nestle chocolate eggs this week, there are once again a few stores you can head to.

Asda is selling a 190g KitKat Chunky egg carton for £3, the same as Tesco and Ocado.

Meanwhile, Morrisons and Iceland are the next cheapest option, selling these for £3.25 and £3.50 respectively.

Asda, Tesco and Ocado are also the cheapest supermarkets if you want to buy a 188g Smarties milk chocolate egg.

All three retailers are selling it for £3, while Morrisons and Sainsbury’s both stock it for £3.25.

Asda is also selling a giant 522g Yorkie Easter egg for £10, ahead of Tesco and Ocado who are selling it for £12.

You can also save by buying in bulk.

Asda’s four for £10 offer applies to a range of Nestle eggs, including the 190g KitKat Chunky and Smarties varieties.

Customers can also purchase four 202g Munchies Milk Chocolate Eggs for £10.

In other news, Cadbury is giving away a “free” Cadbury Easter egg for £12.

Additionally, the new Terry’s Chocolate Orange flavor, which “tastes better than the original,” is generating excitement among shoppers.

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WAITROSE and Sainsbury’s have issued an emergency recall because a popular product “may contain pieces of glass”.

The recall took place after the government’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) issued a national warning regarding Patak’s Aubergine Pickle, made by AB World Foods.

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“This product may contain glass fragments, making it unsafe to eat,” the FSA said in a statement.

It is feared that people may spit blood if they slit their mouth or throat if they do not notice the shards of glass.

The FSA said: “AB World Foods is recalling Patak’s Aubergine Pickle as it may contain glass fragments.

“The possible presence of glass makes this product unsafe to eat.

“The affected product was only sold in Waitrose and Sainsbury’s.”

Online retailer Ocado also sells the pickle.

The affected 312 g jars have the batch code 3172 and a best before date of June 2026.

The FSA added: ‘The company has issued a recall notice to its customers.

“These notices explain to customers why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do once they have purchased the product.

“Our advice to consumers: if you have purchased the above product, do not eat it.

“Instead, return it to the store where it was purchased for a full refund.

“For more information, please contact the AB World Foods customer service team on 0800 0195 617 or consumer.services@abworldfoods.com.”

AB World Foods was founded in 2008 and has a portfolio of brands including Patak’s, Blue Dragon, Levi Roots, Al’Fez and Tabasco.

The company is owned by Associated British Foods.

The Sun Online has contacted AB World Foods, Waitrose and Sainsbury’s for comment.

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THE boss of Ocado has threatened to take partner Marks & Spencer to court over an outstanding payment.

M&S Food first became available online when it bought half of Ocado Retail in 2019, ending Ocado’s relationship with Waitrose.

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Under the agreement, £562 million was paid upfront and a further £190 million was due this year if the company met certain performance targets.

The partnership was initially boosted by the online shopping boom during lockdowns but has since floundered, with M&S bosses publicly complaining that they were unhappy with the availability of M&S shares on Ocado’s site.

As a result, Ocado has missed its targets and M&S has indicated it will not pay the remainder.

But embattled Ocado chief Tim Steiner said yesterday: “We believe we have a very solid case for full payment.”

He added that while “it would be best to reach a settlement . . . we will not walk away from that amount of money.”

Ocado’s accounts yesterday included an admission that an agreement could not be reached “so formal legal proceedings may follow”.

Ocado shares rose while M&S’s fell on the news.

M&S, led by Stuart Machin, said: “On the specific issue of the contractual contingency payment, our advice is that the financial performance of Ocado Retail means that the performance payment criteria have not been met.”

Mr Steiner has previously been successful in court, including against one of the founders of Ocado, whom he accused of stealing secrets.

He also recently won £200 million from Norwegian rival AutoStore after it claimed Ocado had copied patents, prompting a countersuit from the British company.

BUD’S LIGHTER SALE

BREWING giant Anheuser Busch yesterday calculated the cost of Bud Light’s brief partnership with a transgender influencer.

Bud Light lost its 20-year position as the best-selling US beer – with sales of £1.1 billion – after sending a personalized can to Dylan Mulvaney.

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AB InBev, which also owns Stella Artois and Corona, saw its US sales fall by 17.3 percent and attributed this to a decline in Bud Light.

The company’s shares have also fallen since the partnership sparked an anti-trans boycott from American conservatives last April, while LGBTQ+ advocates lambasted the brewer for not doing enough to support Mulvaney.

The branding blunder taught companies a lesson that marketing shouldn’t divide customers, especially when it comes to a beer designed for mass appeal.

Donald Trump was among the critics, calling it “the worst ad in history” – but said earlier this month that AB Inbev was “not a woke company”.

He said the company deserved a “second chance” because it was such a major American employer.

2,000 JOBS AXED

Around 2,000 retail jobs will be lost at Sainsbury’s and The Body Shop.

Supermarket Sainsbury’s said it will switch from making cakes and breads on site to sending pastries to be finished in store ovens.

The company is also closing a call center in Widnes, Cheshire, and overhauling its supply chains, losing a total of 1,500 jobs.

Meanwhile, 489 jobs will be lost after The Body Shop confirmed it will close 75 stores.

The cosmetics company was placed into receivership last month.

HOME LOANS UP

Mortgage applications reached their highest level in fifteen months as home loans became more affordable in early 2024.

Figures from the Bank of England show that the number of new mortgage applications rose from 51,500 in December to 55,200 in January.

The Bank said homeowners were paying 5.19 percent interest – down from 5.28 percent.

The figures indicate an end to rising mortgage rates, which threatened to choke the housing market as buyers could not afford higher monthly interest payments.

BIDDING DUEL FOR CARRIER

A bidding war has broken out between two foreign buyers for Wincanton, one of Britain’s last independent hauliers.

US company GXO Logistics, which took over Clipper Logistics two years ago, thwarted a takeover proposal with a knockout offer of 605p per share in cash.

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The offer values ​​the company, founded in 1925, at £764 million, sending its shares up by a fifth to 606.6p.

Wincanton had struck a deal with French shipping company CMA CGM, which increased its offer to 480p per share this week.

But Wincanton announced on Monday it had received an approach from a “potential competing bidder”.

The secrecy was blown out of the water when GXO announced its offer yesterday, which is 125 percent higher than Wincanton’s share price before the takeover talks became public.

GXO said it had already received support from 34 percent of investors in Wincanton.

LSE BOSS: HIKE PAY

The boss of the London Stock Exchange has said British bosses must earn American pay packets or the city risks losing talent and more companies.

David Schwimmer, who could take home as much as £11m this year, said it was an issue faced by “companies competing on a global basis from a base in London”.

The city has been experiencing a drought at the fairs, but he said there was a better “pipeline” this year.

EASTER is still a few weeks away, but the merchandise is out and it doesn't look like it's going anywhere anytime soon.

Yes, we all love big chocolate eggs, but Easter wouldn't be the same without those scrumptious Cadbury mini eggs.

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The little treats contain delicious Cadbury milk chocolate, wrapped in a crunchy, speckled sugar shell.

If you can't resist the tasty mini chocolates, this week we've put together a list of the cheapest places to buy Cadbury mini eggs.

Please note that prices in stores may vary depending on the size of the mini egg pack you purchase.

It seems like Aldi is the cheapest place to pick up these goodies, but there's a catch.

The Cadbury mini eggs cost £1.25 for an 80g pack, but it looks like they've already sold out.

Despite the treats only landing in stores two weeks ago, it's still worth popping into your local Aldi to see if you can find them.

Aldi also sells its own dupe of Cadbury's mini eggs, called Dairyfine Dairyfine Mini Chocolate Eggs.

The same size pack is sold in stores and online for 99 cents.

Surprisingly, Tesco has the second best price, with mini eggs costing just 5p more than Aldi.

The Cadbury treats cost £1.30 for an 80g pack in Tesco, but to get that price you'll need a Clubcard.

Without the Clubcard you'll have to pay £1.50 for the choccies, so be quick with this deal as it ends on February 20.

Sainsbury's, Iceland, Co-op, Ocado, Asda and Morrisons all have the same size pack for just a little more (£1.50).

None of these supermarkets currently have deals on the treats, but that could change at any time, so keep your eyes peeled.

Lidl tends to focus on own-brand mini eggs around this time of year, so if you're on a budget it's worth looking into that.

Waitrose is the most expensive when it comes to selling chocolate treats at £1.80, 50p more than Aldi's price.

However, it seems like Waitrose has some of the best deals if you want to buy the Cadbury mini eggs in bulk.

You can buy two of these 80g packs for €3, or combine them with selected other Easter chocolate or a similar size.

And if an 80g pack of these isn't enough, Waitrose is selling a giant 1kg share bag of Cadbury Chocolate Mini Eggs for £12.50.

They've also been spotted in B&M for even cheaper: £12.

This week we've also put together a handy list of the cheapest places to buy Cadbury Easter eggs.

Easter is a great time to indulge in your favorite chocolates, so if you're looking for something extravagant, it's worth paying attention to.

Shoppers are loving Cadbury's Caramilk Easter Egg, which is already on store shelves.

The Cadbury Oreo white chocolate eggs are back in Asda for £2.50.

Please note that prices may vary from one day to the next and items may be on sale at any time, especially during the Easter period.

Please note that some supermarkets charge extra for delivery. It may be cheaper to take the mini eggs with you on your weekly shop or to pick them up at the store.

Trolley.nl has a price comparison tool that compares the prices of 130,000 products in all major supermarkets.

The Latest Deals app also lets you search for items and compare prices at different supermarkets to see where it's cheaper.

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Online searches for the axed Caramac bar have risen by a whopping 3,497 percent for one grocer, following fans’ outcry over the chocolate’s discontinuation.

Ocado, Britain’s largest online supermarket, has seen a surge in interest from passionate shoppers since the week following Nestle’s controversial announcement to ax the sweet treat.

Customers are desperate for the chocolate bar while also looking for alternatives to assuage the loss of their beloved delicacy, which has been around since 1959.

Sales of Cadbury ‘Caramilk’ have also more than doubled by 184 per cent, while sales of M&S’s Golden Blond Chocolate have increased by 185 per cent.

Rich Sharpe, the supermarket’s Senior Buyer for Confectionery, says this reflects the growing interest in blonde chocolate.

‘[It] is becoming increasingly popular with our customers,” he added. “So it’s no surprise that news of Caramac’s shutdown has sparked a flurry of searches locally. Fortunately, we have plenty of other options to satisfy hunger.’

Nestle UK confirmed last week it will discontinue a popular chocolate bar due to falling sales, leaving fans in an uproar.

A petition to stop the chocolate bar from being discontinued has since gained the support of more than 27,000 people in less than a week.

The fan favorite sweet treat has been axed as the brand claims it is not as popular as other products in their range.

However, some Britons are outraged by the decision; they joke that they are ‘revolting’, while others claim that the decision is ‘ageist’.

One fan has gone that far set up a petition on Change.org, which quickly collects signatures.

Organizer Gary Millar urged Nestle to reverse its choice, arguing that axing the chocolate bar would be a “significant loss to our cultural heritage.”

Explaining his reasons, he wrote: ‘Of course there are more important causes, but this nostalgic sweet petition is gaining national interest… As a lover of Caramac bars, I am deeply saddened by the possible discontinuation of this beloved treat.

‘The unique blend of caramel and white chocolate has been delighting taste buds for over 50 years since it was first produced by Mackintosh’s in 1959.

‘Its soft texture and toffee-like flavor have made it a favorite among many, including myself. Unfortunately, there is increasing concern that production will cease due to changes in consumer preferences and market trends.

‘This would be a significant loss not only for those who love Caramac bars, but also for our shared cultural heritage.

‘The UK confectionery industry is worth £1.1 billion annually (according to Mintel), and iconic products such as Caramac contribute significantly to its success.’

He pleaded: ‘We cannot let this piece of confectionery history disappear without a fight.

‘By signing this petition you are showing your support for maintaining the production of Caramac bars and ensuring that future generations can enjoy its unique taste just like us. Please sign this petition today to help save our beloved Caramac!’

One fan who signed commented, “While there are much more important things going on in the world, something as simple as a sweet treat acts as a pick-me-up. Caramac has been mine for decades.

‘In a family with many who cannot eat cocoa, this little bar of treat has allowed them to be no different to those who can eat many other brands.’

Another promised: ‘One of my favorites. If so, I will NEVER buy Nestle chocolate again.’

Someone else added: ‘I can’t eat chocolate due to an allergy and this is the best alternative. Come on Nestle, listen to the people. We love it’.

Meanwhile, older supporters chimed in with “I’ve enjoyed Caramac for over 50 years” and “I’m tired of losing my past.”

The bar was also a staple for those allergic to cocoa – one customer said: ‘I can’t eat cocoa because it gives me migraines. Caramac is my treat and ensures that I don’t feel left out when others eat chocolate.’

It comes after brand and culture expert Nick Ede told FEMAIL: ‘It feels like Nestle is a bit old-fashioned to the product and has left it on their product shelves to die.

‘It is important for brands to evolve and create new products, but for many Caramac was a heritage product and very popular. It made a name for itself after the war and was super popular with baby boomers, but it seems to have fallen out of favor or taste, I must say!’

In addition, shortly after the announcement of Caramac’s death, the chocolate giant announced a further discontinuation: the Animal Bar.

Due to ‘poor performance’ it is being pulled from the shelves after 60 years, dealing another blow to shoppers.

A spokesperson told MailOnline that it is ‘being discontinued for the same reason as Caramac: a steady decline in sales’.

One social media user commented: ‘Woke up to the news that the Zodiac will become extinct soon. It brings back fond memories of my childhood, and I don’t know of any other chocolate bar that crunches in the same delicious, satisfying way,” a second added. Another begged: “Don’t you dare get rid of the Animal Bar or anything, help me God.”

Saving the planet might be the last thing on your mind when sipping your evening drink.

But more and more drinks are using food waste as a key ingredient, meaning you can do your part while enjoying what’s in your glass.

According to industry expert WRAP, the UK produces a staggering 9.5 million tonnes of food waste a year, worth more than £19 billion.

Now beers and spirits made from food waste are becoming big business, with distillers infusing spirits with discarded fruit and brewers using surplus bread and cereal to make beers.

But are they still tasty and virtuous? Our beverage expert Helen McGinn puts them to the test. . .

A TOAST TO TOAST

Toast Ale Craft Lager, 330ml, £2, Ocado

The idea of ​​making excess bread-based beer originated almost a decade ago and Toast is now one of the leading beer brands tackling food waste in the UK.

To date, it has used three million slices of surplus bread from bakeries and supermarkets to make its beer.

Bread is used in the brewing process, along with malted barley and European hops, and this one really does what it says on the tin. It’s crunchy and refreshing with a reassuringly hoppy taste. 8/10

GET OUT OF HIS ROOF

Discarded Banana Peel Rum, 70cl, £31.25, thewhiskyexchange.com

This brilliant brand is all about creating spirits from waste food, including vodka from grape skins, vermouth from cascara (the discarded fruit of the coffee cherry), and this – my favorite – rum made from discarded banana skins sourced from a food flavoring manufacturer.

The base is Caribbean rum infused for two weeks with unwanted banana peel, and the result is smooth and wonderfully fruity.

Drink it on its own, mix it with ginger ale or use it in a daiquiri. A real tropical delight! 7/10

FLAKE SEVEN

Seven Brothers Thrown Away IPA, 440ml, £2.50, cubicles

Started by (funnily enough) seven brothers almost a decade ago, this impressive outfit from Salford teamed up with Kellogg’s to make beer from rejected cornflakes (which are too big or too small to make into a packet).

There’s a real hint of grain to it, followed closely by lots of citrus and tropical aromas from the Chinook and Amarillo hops.

Fresh and biscuity, this is one to sip and savor – just maybe not for breakfast. 9/10

DELICIOUS WONKER

Served Hard Seltzer Variety Pack, 6 x 250ml, £12, Ocado

Brothers Dean and Ryan Ginsberg launched this beverage company in 2019.

They use imperfect or “bad” fruit to steep four times distilled vodka and sparkling water to make so-called hard seltzers, and singer Ellie Goulding is such a fan that she invested in the company.

Flavors include lime and raspberry and they taste brilliantly crunchy, fresh and fruity.

But they are so easy to drink that you might forget they contain alcohol (4 percent alc). 6/10

UDDERLY

Black Cow Vodka, 70cl, £29, Morrisons

When Dorset dairy farmer Jason Barber and his friend Archie wanted to make something from whey (the part left over from milk after making cheese), they decided vodka was the answer.

The result is a triple-filtered vodka that is clean and clear with a creamy texture. Smooth enough to sip on its own, it’s also great in a vodka martini.

To make a Dirty Cow, place 50ml of Black Cow Vodka in a cocktail shaker with a handful of ice, add 20ml of dry white vermouth and a teaspoon of olive brine from a jar of olives.

Shake and strain into a martini glass and garnish with an olive. 8/10

GRAPE EXPECTATIONS

Hyke Gin, 70cl, £29.24, masterofmalt.com

The company behind this gin specializes in making spirits from surplus food – in this case it’s unwanted table grapes from UK supermarkets.

The grapes are distilled and then infused with a long list of botanicals, including juniper (the main botanical used in gin), South African rooibos leaves and cumin leaves, coriander, cardamom and lemon peel.

Fresh and crisp with a comforting hint of juniper pine, it’s a refreshingly sustainable option for your evening G&T. 7/10

RIPE AND RUMMY

Trash & Treasure spiced botanical rum, 70cl, £34, warnersdistillery.com

Tom Warner makes a range of award-winning gins on his Northamptonshire farm, but it’s his rum that really comes into its own.

Made using overripe bananas, discarded fruit peels and dandelion roots, these waste ingredients are distilled and infused with Jamaican white rum to produce quite a complex spirit with fruit and spice on the palate.

Try it on its own or use it to make a banana daiquiri. 8/10

• Helen’s book The Knackered Mother’s Wine Guide is out now.