Convenience retailers should note that Toffee Crisp and Blue Riband bars can no longer be classified as milk chocolate under UK food rules following a recipe reformulation by Nestlé.
Under UK regulations, a product must contain at least 20 per cent cocoa solids and 20 per cent milk solids to be described as milk chocolate.
Both bars have now fallen below these thresholds after Nestlé increased the proportion of vegetable fats, a shift the manufacturer says was necessary to manage sharply rising ingredient costs.
The bars will now be described as “encased in a smooth milk chocolate flavour coating,” rather than being covered in milk chocolate, marking a notable change for retailers mindful of labelling accuracy and shopper expectations.
Nestlé said the updated recipes were “carefully developed and sensory tested” and stressed that no other chocolate products in its portfolio are currently planned for reformulation.
A spokesperson said the company has faced “significant increases in the cost of cocoa over the past years, making it much more expensive to manufacture our products,” adding that Nestlé continues to absorb rising costs “where possible”.
The move comes amid wider reformulation across the confectionery aisle. In October, McVitie’s Penguin and Club bars were reclassified as “chocolate flavour” after parent company Pladis reduced their cocoa content to offset soaring raw material costs.
Although cocoa prices have eased slightly in recent months, three years of cost surges, which were fuelled by poor harvests, weather extremes and tightening global supply, continue to put pressure on manufacturers.
The practice of changing ingredient ratios or replacing premium components with cheaper alternatives, often dubbed “skimpflation,” has become increasingly common across food categories.
For convenience retailers, these shifts underline the importance of staying alert to label changes, reformulations and potential shopper reactions, especially in categories where flavour, quality cues and brand trust heavily influence purchasing decisions.