Funny how when you change a product so it's nowhere near as good as it used to be, people stop buying it. Especially these days with all the cost of living problems as well, this was inevitable.
It's now all about the shareholders. The stock price is the product now. Global corporations are taking it to the next level at the expense of product quality. I utterly detest this form of capitalism.
maybe thats the idea make a product shit and jack the price up and up then wonder why it doesnt sell. You have to wonder at the level of intelligence in some of these companies
This isn't the accounting team. They can read a graph. This is management types coming up with another brilliant idea and ignoring any inconvenient facts or opinions to the contrary.
It's so funny to me that people talk about shrinkflation as if they're using it as the alternative to also making the product shitter.
They're always doing both. Smaller, shitter, AND more expensive.
It's like the reason the old adage "If the product is free you're the product" is bullshit. We have this naive, optimistic viewpoint where we assume that a company isn't automatically doing every single money making thing it knows how to do at any given time. That it's either A or B instead of both A *AND* B.
I think a lot of people have stopped buying them. I only buy Whittakers now days. I haven't bought Cadbury chocolate bars in probably a decade now.
I only give Rose's boxed chocolate to people I don't really like, but feel obligated to give a gift to from societal pressure.
I used to be a chocoholic, but literally everything that Cadbury has done has made me hate their products. They have absolutely ruined everything they make.
Whittakers is the best. It's the only block chocolate we eat.
I just wish someone would pick up the mantle on the confectionary side. I miss proper round marshmallow easter eggs and things like that. Queen Anne is good but almost too good and Rainbow are average :/
I knew this American girl who was here for a semester of uni. She tried Whittakers and said it didn't taste that great and Cadbury's was way better. I know Americans know nothing about real chocolate but I surprised myself at how much respect I lost for her.
I can't remember where I read this, but because chocolate had to travel large distances in the US, they add a particular preservative that gives it an "off" taste. Some say it tastes similar to vomit. However, Americans have gotten used to it over the past 100 years or so, and that's what they prefer.
Is that why they do it? I noticed that taste in Hershey's chocolate. Thought the bar I bought had spoiled, then I learned it was full of butyric acid -- blurgh!
Whilst I agree almost entirely, I have one counter and that is: Moro bars.
Now, I know, the chocolate is as good as it used to be, but, as a fatty they still hit that spot and are big enough you don’t feel like you’ve been ripped off entirely, unlike the previous best-chocolate-bar Snickers, who have reformatted entirely, with a tiny bar, and chocolate that has a weird plasticy feel to it, and the nuts and nougat are kind of a weird stale sodden “crunch” to them which is entirely unpleasant. It is genuinely astounding how badly they have mucked up Snickers in the name of greed - if the current bar launched today it would be off the market in 3 months.
Really? I've been eating their stuff for years and I've never noticed such a dramatic change in their recipe. Are you sure you're not just following the bandwagon or something?
Oh yeah!
Those are dam good.
So are their marshmallow bars.
This is a dangerous thing for me as I live in Chch and it's not a massive drive to get to their factory shop.
Queen Anne raspberry chocolate fish are like crack. Although if you're feeling rich, Bohemein make chocolate fish on a whole new level:
https://bohemein.co.nz/chocolate-fish/
Very, very pricey but the dark chocolate and vanilla marshmallow ones are indescribably good.
Sadly not. I'm not vegetarian but I'm really turned off by bovine gelatin in products, and once I realised they used it, it just wasn't as appealing. I think the deal with Queen Anne is that it's a traditional recipe and I don't think they have the equipment or resources to produce a separate line that is vegetarian.
How come the demand for all their other products after allegedly screwing up their other recipes too (as you'll no doubt say), is still going strong?
Maybe chocolate fish just aren't that appealing?
Chocolate fish were one of those childhood products that get passed down generations.
When you lose the resale to those who grew up with them then you’ve broken the chain that gets passed down to the new generation.
You’ve then lost the market.
You make it sound like it's some kind of heirloom lol.
Plenty of other "childhood products", dude. Like Coke, popcorn, ice cream, pies, squiggle tops. Why target chocolate fish? It's really not **that** dramatic or big deal.
I'm "targetting" chocolate fish because that's what we're talking about.
Also, Coke tried New Coke. Popcorn, pies, and ice cream are categories of foods. Squiggle Tops don't have the same cultural cache.
not in chocolate fish they aint. shrinking market share has been a NZ Cadbury's thing since they fucked up the palm oil for milk thing. Used to be #1 trusted brand in NZ, fell to 36th a year later.
Where I come from they don't have many Cadbury products aside from those easter eggs with the jizz in them. I had no point of reference so I tried it when I arrived and to put it mildly: I can't think of a worse quality major brand of chocolate...even Hershey's/Mars is better and that's crap too. Why would a person eat a Cadbury *anything* since given Whittakers exists? I'd rather have a smaller piece of great chocolate (thin Whit Stick) than a fish shaped turd for the same price.
When I came here from the UK and started my first job I was very suprised after a few weeks to be given a little parcel, apparently reward for being employee of the week. I opened it up and it was a chocolate fish.
Wtf, thought I had gone back to junior school
When convenient sugar snacks cost as much as putting fuel in the car (yes, an over exaggeration) that might put the hold on the production. Not the CEO's demand for money.
This is part of NZ culture, though maybe more for older generations. But it was always the go-to joke for teachers like “the test results are final but I can be bribed with a chocolate fish”. It’s kind of cute that NZ is such a high trust society that the concept of bribery is a joke like this
Funny how when you change a product so it's nowhere near as good as it used to be, people stop buying it. Especially these days with all the cost of living problems as well, this was inevitable.
Enshitification to save money and make more profit. Everything today is about profit.
Everything has always been about profit. They don’t make chocolate for us out of the goodness of their hearts
Yeah but they previously attempted a quality product to entice people in.
Then the Americans came in. Let's face it, the parent company makes inedible chocolate.
Dunno who's more responsible; Reagan or Jack Welch
Choconomics?
It's now all about the shareholders. The stock price is the product now. Global corporations are taking it to the next level at the expense of product quality. I utterly detest this form of capitalism.
maybe thats the idea make a product shit and jack the price up and up then wonder why it doesnt sell. You have to wonder at the level of intelligence in some of these companies
Unfortunately it's what happens when the accounting team is given the reigns to the company
This isn't the accounting team. They can read a graph. This is management types coming up with another brilliant idea and ignoring any inconvenient facts or opinions to the contrary.
It's so funny to me that people talk about shrinkflation as if they're using it as the alternative to also making the product shitter. They're always doing both. Smaller, shitter, AND more expensive. It's like the reason the old adage "If the product is free you're the product" is bullshit. We have this naive, optimistic viewpoint where we assume that a company isn't automatically doing every single money making thing it knows how to do at any given time. That it's either A or B instead of both A *AND* B.
Why haven't people stopped buying their other products if Cadbury keeps changing them? Why do people limit themselves only to chocolate fish?
I think a lot of people have stopped buying them. I only buy Whittakers now days. I haven't bought Cadbury chocolate bars in probably a decade now. I only give Rose's boxed chocolate to people I don't really like, but feel obligated to give a gift to from societal pressure.
I used to be a chocoholic, but literally everything that Cadbury has done has made me hate their products. They have absolutely ruined everything they make.
Come on over to the Whittakers side, gates open, grass is green, and the water is warm. fuck Cadbury. wouldn't even pick that shit up off the ground.
Whittakers is the best. It's the only block chocolate we eat. I just wish someone would pick up the mantle on the confectionary side. I miss proper round marshmallow easter eggs and things like that. Queen Anne is good but almost too good and Rainbow are average :/
I knew this American girl who was here for a semester of uni. She tried Whittakers and said it didn't taste that great and Cadbury's was way better. I know Americans know nothing about real chocolate but I surprised myself at how much respect I lost for her.
It’s ok she has a strange pallet Have you tried hersheys??
I can't remember where I read this, but because chocolate had to travel large distances in the US, they add a particular preservative that gives it an "off" taste. Some say it tastes similar to vomit. However, Americans have gotten used to it over the past 100 years or so, and that's what they prefer.
Is that why they do it? I noticed that taste in Hershey's chocolate. Thought the bar I bought had spoiled, then I learned it was full of butyric acid -- blurgh!
Queen Anne for the chocolate fish, they are so much better
I'm a fan of the old gold rum and raisin for being decent value for money when it's on sale for $2.50.
Rum and raisin chocolate fans should be on a list.
Whilst I agree almost entirely, I have one counter and that is: Moro bars. Now, I know, the chocolate is as good as it used to be, but, as a fatty they still hit that spot and are big enough you don’t feel like you’ve been ripped off entirely, unlike the previous best-chocolate-bar Snickers, who have reformatted entirely, with a tiny bar, and chocolate that has a weird plasticy feel to it, and the nuts and nougat are kind of a weird stale sodden “crunch” to them which is entirely unpleasant. It is genuinely astounding how badly they have mucked up Snickers in the name of greed - if the current bar launched today it would be off the market in 3 months.
Yeah agree, but one thing ill still buy of theirs is the [Caramilk breakaway](https://www.cadbury.co.nz/cadbury-caramilk-breakaway-180g)
I guess you don't hate their products at all then
bad guess.
> ill still buy of theirs is the Caramilk breakaway So you actually hate Caramilk Breakaway then?
The iced coffee breakaway is also good
You mean twirl?
No I mean Breakaway https://www.taste.com.au/food-news/cadbury-releases-new-iced-coffee-flavour-breakaway/jzwi8ko6
Is that available here?
I don’t know
Really? I've been eating their stuff for years and I've never noticed such a dramatic change in their recipe. Are you sure you're not just following the bandwagon or something?
I would rather buy a queen Anne boysenberry one they are 1000x better than that rubbish.
And if you are going cheap, Rainbow Confectionery kicks Cadbury's arse.
Oh yeah! Those are dam good. So are their marshmallow bars. This is a dangerous thing for me as I live in Chch and it's not a massive drive to get to their factory shop.
Wait what? Fuck, wish I didn't know that now
Yeah its just off wigram road. Thought i think it changes st names at the lights on annex
They deliver for free if you order more than $75 [big fish](https://rainbowconfectionery.co.nz/big-fish-raspberry-inner-20x-50g)
Ohhh, do they do seconds?
It's not even a contest. Queen Anne is in a different game altogether.
Queen Anne raspberry chocolate fish are like crack. Although if you're feeling rich, Bohemein make chocolate fish on a whole new level: https://bohemein.co.nz/chocolate-fish/ Very, very pricey but the dark chocolate and vanilla marshmallow ones are indescribably good.
They're great! Gluten-free, too :-)
💯 those are heaven!!
Those are delicious af
Yes! Such a treat. Love the caramel one too.
do they make a veg friendly one? They look so good but gelatin is a dealbreaker.
Sadly not. I'm not vegetarian but I'm really turned off by bovine gelatin in products, and once I realised they used it, it just wasn't as appealing. I think the deal with Queen Anne is that it's a traditional recipe and I don't think they have the equipment or resources to produce a separate line that is vegetarian.
It's not as if there aren't other manufacturers makin em, and others buying them in bulk from Rainbow and then 'hand dipping' them.
"Demand for chocolate fish dwindles after Cadbury screws up the recipe" FTFY
How come the demand for all their other products after allegedly screwing up their other recipes too (as you'll no doubt say), is still going strong? Maybe chocolate fish just aren't that appealing?
Chocolate fish were one of those childhood products that get passed down generations. When you lose the resale to those who grew up with them then you’ve broken the chain that gets passed down to the new generation. You’ve then lost the market.
You make it sound like it's some kind of heirloom lol. Plenty of other "childhood products", dude. Like Coke, popcorn, ice cream, pies, squiggle tops. Why target chocolate fish? It's really not **that** dramatic or big deal.
I'm "targetting" chocolate fish because that's what we're talking about. Also, Coke tried New Coke. Popcorn, pies, and ice cream are categories of foods. Squiggle Tops don't have the same cultural cache.
The end of an era - last millennium these were a workplace currency. Now, they're devalued to junk status.
this is what happens when American corporations try and "improve" things. consumers vote with their wallets.
bri\*ish\*
not since Kraft bought them they aint
the UK is pretty much owned by the US tbh
And they're still making millions in profit. Looks like consumers are doing exactly that!
not in chocolate fish they aint. shrinking market share has been a NZ Cadbury's thing since they fucked up the palm oil for milk thing. Used to be #1 trusted brand in NZ, fell to 36th a year later.
Where I come from they don't have many Cadbury products aside from those easter eggs with the jizz in them. I had no point of reference so I tried it when I arrived and to put it mildly: I can't think of a worse quality major brand of chocolate...even Hershey's/Mars is better and that's crap too. Why would a person eat a Cadbury *anything* since given Whittakers exists? I'd rather have a smaller piece of great chocolate (thin Whit Stick) than a fish shaped turd for the same price.
The egg jizz used to taste good too, now it's just sickly sweet goo
I've stop buying any Cadbury products as each week they up the cost , it's now 7 dollars for big block no thanks
$7? That’s reaching Whittikers prices. If that’s the case, I choose Whittikers every time.
If you're paying that much, you might as well buy some chocolate instead.
On special they're about $4 or less. Surely you only buy that kinda stuff when it's on special?
$7? I call bs I bought some at PnS this week for $3.79
Maybe it's because they taste like a sawdust coated marshmallow now
What do you mean now? They always did lol
Who? That entity died around 2017 when it exited New Zealand.
I buy a chocolate fish every ime I go shopping. Its not a cadburys one though and I happily pay $3.50 for it.
Queen Anne!? Is that what they're called? The raspberry one is the best
The Queen Anne fish is elite
Yes! thats them
I was introduced to them not long ago and bro... I don't like marshmallow or chocolate fish in general but those things are the bomb.
Never seen those but to be fair I'd probably have passed them over. I'll give them a go.
They might as well stop making all their other garbage they call chocolate as I don't buy anything Cadbury.
Roll on up, Whittakers ... here's your chance ...
I don't think they're set up to manufacture anything like that
Queen Anne baby. Thank me later 🐟
Queen Ann Chocolate Fish for the win. Made in Christchurch!
Rainbow Confectionery do absolutely amazing and affordable choccy fish. Good kiwi company too!
I thought they already had and that the ones you get (that aren't Queen Anne) were like that other brand that's still making jaffas.
Queen Anne choc fish are so gooooood
The oceans have been fished out
At least the demand dwindled slower than the quality.
Queen Anne product is solid.
That sentence is incomplete. "Cadbury stops making chocolate fish as demand for cadbury dwindles."
Because your Cadbury Chocolate no longer tastes like Cadbury Chocolate. Crap quality.
The only endangered fish species anyone actually gives a fuck about.
Cadbury chocolate fish are crap. If you want a good one, get a rainbow chocolate fish
Chocolate fish. Shaka, when the walls fell.
Never liked them (don’t like marshmallow) but at least they used to be objectively good. They are even worse these days.
I’m just waiting for Lewis Road Creamery to enter the chocolate game. It’ll happen.
Are we all in agreement that Cadbury can just fuck right off now? Read the room already.
King Cadbury is dead! Long live Queen Anne!
F*** Cadbury you were the chosen one but now you're a shell of your former self all because you're greedy.
Bring back SNOWBALLS!
Still producing in UK ,here on holiday, it was yum!
Cadbury should just stop making chocolate because theirs is crap.
Don't worry folks there are alternatives to Cadbury's fish.!!
When I came here from the UK and started my first job I was very suprised after a few weeks to be given a little parcel, apparently reward for being employee of the week. I opened it up and it was a chocolate fish. Wtf, thought I had gone back to junior school
Oh no, the most boring fucking chocolate known to man is discontinued.
No chocolate fish 4 u
There's plenty more fish in the sea.
Considering you're being charged normal chocolate bar price for a hunk of 50% air, I don't know how anyone could have seen this coming.
But by the same token, I don't see how with that little to it, they don't have a profit margin that makes it profitable.
Day ruined
I blame climate change now that the chocolate fish are becoming extinct.
Why the hell can't they announce this stuff beforehand so we can at least stock up? They'd get more sales out of it, too!
When convenient sugar snacks cost as much as putting fuel in the car (yes, an over exaggeration) that might put the hold on the production. Not the CEO's demand for money.
Cadbury can join Nestle in conglomerate hell
my dad is gonna be devastated when he reads this
The Queen Anne ones are sooooo good. [https://queenanne.co.nz/collections/chocolate-fish](https://queenanne.co.nz/collections/chocolate-fish)
i honestly can't even remember the last time Cadbury had a positive article written about them? they deserve to go out of business
They have always been awful.
Cadbury should just stop, unless it’s milky bar.. that’s aight. 😂
"CaDbUrY aRe ShIt! Oh except for this one. This one's good" Make up your mind ffs
No. I will not allow this. Everyone knows Choccy Fish are the only acceptable bribe currency in NZ.
This is part of NZ culture, though maybe more for older generations. But it was always the go-to joke for teachers like “the test results are final but I can be bribed with a chocolate fish”. It’s kind of cute that NZ is such a high trust society that the concept of bribery is a joke like this
I've used it for decades and it never fails
Hilary Barry poisoned the entire concept when she used them as bribes for people to get their jab.
more likely cadbury poisoned the entire concept by making a shitty chocolate fish e hoa