Mutiny on the Bounty

After fans call for a ban, Celebrations coconut bars are removed

IT’S one chocolate lover’s dream, another’s worst nightmare – a Bounty-free box of Celebrations.

Regardless of your stance, it’s about to become a reality as tubs without the coconut-filled treat are launched nationwide.

The no-Bounty boxes, emblazoned with graphics of the ‘cancelled’ bars, will instead be packed with extra Mars, Snickers, MilkyWays and other fan favourites.

The trial of the Bounty-free boxes comes after research revealed that more than a third want the chocolate banned altogether. If successful, it could pave the way for Bountys to be dropped from Celebrations boxes permanently.

Research from maker Mars Wrigley found Bountys could be a flashpoint for arguments – with two thirds of people saying that a box with just Bountys would cause a family fight.

Only one in five said a Bounty was their favourite chocolate in the box, the findings from the US sweetmaker showed. They were found to be more popular with older chocoholics, with 38 per cent of over-55s saying it was their favourite bar.

Two in five said they have argued with friends and family over their taste in chocolate, while one in five said they would avoid romantic relationships with those who have different taste in chocolate.

And in a further sign of tension over the coconut chocolate, a fifth of Bounty fans said they hide their affection for the treat. The trial follows last year’s ‘Bounty Return Scheme’, which saw Bounty haters return their unwanted chocolates to swap them with more popular Maltesers after Christmas.

Emily Owen, of Mars Wrigley, said: ‘Christmas is the time for giving – but it seems this year, the British public are keen for us to take away... Bounty.

‘Last year, we gave customers the opportunity to return their unwanted Bounty chocolates. Now, off the back of public demand, we’re trialling taking them out of the tub altogether.

‘You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone! And to those loyal (and secret) Bounty lovers out there, there’s still a chance they’ll make a return after the trial.’

The trial will run in 40 Tesco

‘Chance they’ll make a return’

shops from next Tuesday until a week before Christmas.

Last year Mars Wrigley ran a Christmas TV advert telling of a love story between a Bounty and an equally hated Brussels sprout.

The bar weeps on the sofa after being ignored at a disco, stood up in a restaurant and rejected on dating sites. But it was saved by the sprout, who thinks it is in fact the best treat in the box.