UK: Nestle Stops Production of Low-Sugar Chocolate, Milkybar Wowsomes

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Nestle axed the sales of Milkybar Wowsomes chocolates that used the latest sugar-reduction technology as the demands are very weak. Nestle’s Chief Technology Officer, Stefan Palzer, said that the sales of the chocolate bars in the UK were ‘underwhelming’ as opposed to the creamy full-sugar chocolate.

The sugar-reduction technology was first unveiled in 2016 and the first product it was used in was Milkybar Wowsomes. It created a more porous sugar structure leading to lesser amounts of sugar-producing the same level sweetness.

Researchers and analysts expected the, then new technology to provide Nestle with an edge in the health conducive market.

Nestle has already started working on the next prototype of sugar-reduction techniques which might be released this year and can be introduced in a variety of categories, including drinks. The last technology was mostly used in chocolate making.

As Palzer told, adding new processes and methods will cut sugar by about 30% with a natural approach. He added, “We took these learnings and we have now something much better performing.”

Patrice Bula, head of Nestle’s strategic business units said, “We fail forward. You take it and launch a better product. And if we fail again, we try again.”

‘Hollow’ sugar crystals were used in the bars as narrated by Nestle. It cut the total sugar usage to almost a third of the whole sugar variant. The companies producing confectionaries are under sharp observation and are advised to keep the sugar to a minimum.

Stefano Agostini, Nestle’s chief executive for UK and Ireland, at the time of the launch of the product said: “A new product like Milkybar Wowsomes introduces greater choice and allows parents to treat their children with chocolate that tastes great but has less sugar.

He added, “We are demonstrating how we can, and will, contribute to a healthier future and that we take our public health responsibilities very seriously.” There have been attempts to cut the obesity rated by giant companies like Unilever which is promising to stop marketing its products to children.