Fans of rich, dark chocolate with a satisfying crunch, without the sickly sweetness of milk or white chocolate will be disappointed to hear that Cadbury has discontinued its much-loved Bournville dark chocolate fingers, nearly five years after their debut in 2020. The Bournville dark chocolate fingers combined the intense, deep cocoa flavour of dark chocolate with the crispness of a biscuit, creating a unique treat that quickly gained a loyal following. However, this week it was confirmed that the product has been withdrawn from shelves, much to the dismay of fans.
The initial recipe of the Bournville fingers had a particular appeal to those seeking a less sweet alternative to traditional Dairy Milk or white chocolate fingers, and they were also highly popular among vegans and those who are allergic or intolerant to lactose, as the original recipe was dairy-free. In 2022, however, disappointment struck for some Cadbury customers as the company altered the ingredients to include skimmed milk powder, removing the product’s vegan-friendly status.
One person wrote on the Asda website about the added ingredient, as reported by The Sun: “Another perfectly good product ruined for many by the unnecessary addition on a known allergen. Used to buy these as the whole family loved and could eat them, but sadly the addition of milk means that is no longer the case.”
Someone else said: “Choosing dark chocolate to avoid milk but for some unnecessary reason Cadburys have added it along with flavourings!”
Confirming the dark chocolate fingers would no longer be sold, a spokesperson for Mondelēz International, Cadbury’s parent company, said: “We continuously adapt our product range to ensure it meets changing tastes whilst supporting growth for our customers and our business.
“Our Cadbury Bournville Fingers were discontinued this year. However, we still have plenty of other delicious products for consumers to enjoy, such as our Cadbury Bournville Giant Dark Buttons and our classic Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate Fingers.”
Despite the added ingredient and discontinuation, fans have shared glowing reviews of the Bournville fingers online.
One Asda customer wrote: “I used to enjoy the regular chocolate fingers but since I’ve tried these I’m a convert! They are soo delicious especially with a cup of tea, and because they aren’t as sweet as the usual chocolate fingers, they are also very moreish! Would recommend for everyone!”
Another fan of the treat said on Amazon: “Finger biscuits covered in dark chocolate, usually I don’t like Cadbury Milk chocolate as too sweet for me but these biscuits I enjoyed”
For now, fans will have to savour the memory of Bournville chocolate fingers, as they seem to have already disappeared from Cadbury’s official website.