Toblerone Dark Chocolate Bar Discontinued in UK After Nearly 60 Years

Toblerone's iconic dark chocolate bar is being pulled from UK shelves after almost six decades of production, confectionery giant Mondelēz International has confirmed.

The company announced it has discontinued the 360g dark chocolate version of the bar in the UK, citing "changing tastes" and a focus on evolving its product lineup. “We understand this difficult decision may be disappointing for some consumers,” the company said, adding that it is continuously adapting its offerings and remains committed to investing in the Toblerone brand.

The dark chocolate Toblerone, which features 50% cocoa content, was first launched in 1969—61 years after the original milk chocolate version debuted in 1908.

It remains unclear whether this discontinuation will apply to other sizes or if the product will still be sold outside the UK. The BBC has reached out to Mondelēz for clarification.

The Toblerone name itself is a blend of the founder’s surname, “Tobler,” and “torrone,” the Italian word for nougat—a key ingredient in the chocolate, along with honey and almonds. The bar is famous for its triangular shape, believed to be inspired by the Matterhorn mountain, which is also depicted on the packaging.

Over the years, several variations of the chocolate have been introduced, including white chocolate and fruit and nut versions.

The decision to discontinue the dark chocolate version comes just before the UK’s Easter bank holiday weekend, a peak time for chocolate sales. However, the confectionery industry has been grappling with soaring cocoa prices, which hit record highs in December due to a steep drop in production.

Chocolate prices have increased by 13.6% in the year leading up to March, according to the UK’s Office for National Statistics. A recent investigation by consumer group Which? found Easter egg prices had risen by up to 50% compared to last year, while general supermarket chocolate prices went up by 16.5%.

Claire Burnet, co-founder of Chococo, a premium chocolate maker based in Dorset, explained the cost hike on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. She cited poor harvests in Ghana and the Ivory Coast—countries responsible for 60% of the world’s cocoa—as the main reason. Contributing factors include aging trees and farmers, declining crop yields, plant disease, and the mounting effects of climate change.

West Africa, in particular, has seen worsening harvest conditions due to unusually dry weather in recent years.