The beloved dark chocolate version of Toblerone is being pulled from UK shelves after nearly 60 years.
Mondelēz International, the company behind the iconic Swiss chocolate, confirmed that the 360g dark chocolate bar will no longer be available in the UK. They acknowledged the move may be “disappointing for some consumers” but said the decision comes down to changing tastes and their ongoing efforts to grow the brand.
“We’re always adapting our range to suit what customers want,” a company statement said. “And we’ll continue to invest in Toblerone.”
The original Toblerone bar dates all the way back to 1908, with the dark chocolate version (which contains 50% cocoa) making its debut in 1969. There’s no word yet on whether the dark chocolate variant will remain available in other countries or in different sizes.
The Toblerone name is a blend of founder Theodor Tobler’s surname and “torrone,” the Italian word for a type of honey-and-almond nougat—an essential ingredient in the chocolate. Its iconic triangle shape is widely believed to be inspired by the Matterhorn mountain in the Swiss Alps, a silhouette of which is also featured on the packaging.
Over the years, the Toblerone range has expanded to include white chocolate, fruit and nut, and other varieties.
The timing of the discontinuation is notable, coming just as the UK enters the Easter bank holiday—typically a high point for chocolate sales. But the chocolate industry has been under pressure, with cocoa prices hitting record highs due to falling production levels.
According to the Office for National Statistics, chocolate prices rose by 13.6% in the year leading up to March. Easter egg prices alone spiked by as much as 50%, according to a recent investigation by Which?, while overall supermarket chocolate prices climbed by 16.5%.
Claire Burnet, co-founder of Dorset-based chocolatier Chococo, pointed to a “perfect storm” behind the soaring costs. “We’re seeing ageing farmers and cocoa trees, lower yields, more disease, and the impact of climate change,” she told BBC Radio 4. West African countries like Ghana and the Ivory Coast, which produce 60% of the world’s cocoa, have been especially hit by unusually dry weather.
So, while the dark Toblerone is disappearing from UK shelves, the bigger story is the ongoing shake-up in the world of chocolate—one bar at a time. Photo by Ashley Pomeroy, Wikimedia commons.