Nestle makes big change to Quality Street tubs and shoppers will be divided

NESTLE is making a huge change to Quality Street tubs and it will divide shoppers.

For the first time ever, the iconic chocolate brand will be launching paper tubs.

These Quality Street tubs will be available from next Monday at 60 Tesco supermarkets.

Their introduction is part of a trial, and Nestle will gauge the product's popularity among shoppers.

It claims the paper tub, adorned in the signature Quality Street purple, boasts a luxurious design and feel.

They feature a "re-close" mechanism that ensures the lid can be securely sealed even after opening.

This isn't the first time Quality Street has introduced new packaging to make the festive favourites easier to recycle.

Nestle left shoppers outraged when it changed the Quality Street chocolate wrappers for the same reason in October 2022.

The iconic brightly coloured plastic and foil wrappers that had encased its famous chocolates for 86 years were replaced with a more understated form of waxed paper.

Since then, shoppers have flocked to X (formerly Twitter) to express their dismay at the loss of the treat's iconic shiny wrapping, criticising the new look as "cheap" and vowing to switch to the brand's competitors.

One shopper said: "I'm sorry, but they're cheap-looking and depressing. They reek of war-time austerity."

"With food, presentation is important, and the sparkle has gone from Quality Street."

Another wrote: "Quality Street – flavours may come and go, tubs may shrink but one thing has remained constant since 1936 – the shiny, sparkly, rustling wrappers, made from foil and coloured cellophane… No more!"

Chocolate historian Alex Hutchinson, who used to be the official archivist at Rowntree Mackintosh, also criticised the move.

He said: "It's a huge deal. And it's a bit sad."

Nestle has a goal to make all of its packaging recyclable by 2025.

Jemma Handley, senior brand manager for Quality Street, said: "We're looking forward to seeing what Quality Street fans make of the paper tub.

"A lot of care and hard work has gone into the trial and we're proud to be the first major manufacturer to trial a paper tub at Christmas."

The introduction of new paper tubs does not signal the immediate discontinuation of plastic and metal Quality Street tins.

Shoppers can still buy 600g plastic tubs of Quality Street chocolates at most major supermarkets.

Tins containing over 800g of the festive chocolates continue to be available too.

Nestle has already released new metal tins of Quality Street for this festive season.

NEW TINS FOR 2024

Nestle, launched a new version of its 813g Quality Street tin in September.

The £12 tub features all the usual classic flavours and plays on Quality Street's Halifax heritage - where it was first manufactured in 1936 and still is.

The 813g Quality Street tin is available now across a host of retailers nationwide including Asda, Co-op, Morrisons, B&M and Sainsbury's.

Shoppers can pick up the new 813g tin for £12, £1.48 per 100g, which can obviously be reused after all the chocolates have been eaten.

However, if you're not fussed about the nostalgic tin, you'll pay less going for a different tub or packet.

Shoppers can pick up a plastic 600g tub from Tesco for £6 - £1 per 100g.

You can also pick up a 357g sharing bag of Quality Street from B&M for just £4 - £1.12 per 100g.

Nestle has also brought back a Quality Street fan-favourite for the second Christmas in a row.

The coffee creme flavour chocolate was last seen in Quality Street tubs over 20 years ago, until the chocolatier reintroduced it last year.

Nestle has confirmed that the sweet treat will be available once again this Christmas.

However, fans won't find the iconic flavour in the usual Quality Street tubs.

Instead, the coffee-flavour fondant wrapped in dark chocolate has joined the 11 other Quality Street sweets at pick and mix stations across selected John Lewis stores in the UK.

They are also available in a limited-edition cracker at Waitrose and John Lewis stores for £5.50.

Tesco shoppers have been rushing to get their hands on Celebration tubs with just one iconic flavour in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, customers have been left in shock after B&M launched its new Christmas range.