A POPULAR chocolate brand has been slammed by unsatisfied shoppers after they found a day blank in all their advent calendars.
Tony’s Chocolonely made the bold decision to keep door 10 of their beloved yearly Christmas treat empty with fans saying the reason why is “woke”.
The Dutch brand were trying to raise awareness of the inequality cocoa farmers face in the chocolate supply chain through the act.
But those who forked out £14.99 for the 24 day chocolatey calendar were less than impressed with the marketing ploy.
Behind the 10th door was a QR code and a message reading: “Not much to find in there, huh? Bummer!
“Cos the cocoa industry is unequally divided, so is our calendar.”
Many quickly voiced their complaints over a friendly advent calendar, often purchased for children, making a political statement.
One said: “Sorry I know it’s activism but if I opened my calendar and the door was empty it would ruin my day.”
Another said opening up the door was “such a let down”.
A third simply wrote: “Woke nonsense.”
Others also referenced how the confectionery company has used the same tactic in the past.
They were made to apologise in 2021 for causing “confusion and disappointment” among shoppers.
One commented on social media this week following the backlash saying: “That’s why I’ve got a Cadbury one. I want daily chocolate, not preaching to.”
Addressing the issues, a statement on the Tony’s Chocolonely‘s website read: “Big chocolate companies make big profits, while cocoa farmers aren’t paid enough for their cocoa.
“The result? Many of them still live way below the poverty line.”
“The bitter truth is 1.56 million children in cocoa-growing families are involved in child labour in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.
“At Tony’s, we exist to change that. By chomping on our choc, you’re helping us break the mould to end exploitation in cocoa, bar by bar, bite by bite.”
This time around, to make up for the missing day, an additional two chocolates are actually included on day nine in the calendar.
This means there are actually 25 sweet treats inside.
Some saw the positives from the situation and regarded the bold move as “quite clever” for raising awareness.
The nearly £15 is often regarded as a top ranged advent treat in the UK with it often selling out across several stores.
Dubbed a big countdown calendar it contains 225g of chocolate in 10 different flavours.
Each one comes in a mini size with the 9th and 24th having two bars inside.
Not all advent calendars are made equal with some offering never-before-seen treats inside and others giving shoppers a chance to buy bulk items all at once for a slashed price.
Some, on the other hand, are not quite as good value for money.
The Walkers advent calendar is £10 from Iceland and features 24 doors with a pack of crisps in each.
However, you can get a multi-pack of 20 bags for £4.85 also from Iceland.
It means that if you bought two packs, you would get 40 bags of crisps – almost double the amount in the calendar, for a lower price.
The Lindt 5ft advent calendar certainly stands out. But at £180 at Costco, it doesn’t come cheap.
Each of the 24 doors contains a full-size Lindt chocolate treat including gold reindeer and bears, as well as 200g boxes of Lindor.
However, £180 for 24 days works out at £7.50 a window.
You can even get an advent calendar for your cat these days with one from Lily’s Kitchen costing £9.99 for 24 days of treats.
However, the calendar almost four times more expensive than a normal pack of treats from the same store.
Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how you can save money on your Christmas shopping.
Limit the amount of presents – buying presents for all your family and friends can cost a bomb.
Instead, why not organise a Secret Santa between your inner circles so you’re not having to buy multiple presents.
Plan ahead – if you’ve got the stamina and budget, it’s worth buying your Christmas presents for the following year in the January sales.
Make sure you shop around for the best deals by using price comparison sites so you’re not forking out more than you should though.
Buy in Boxing Day sales – some retailers start their main Christmas sales early so you can actually snap up a bargain before December 25.
Delivery may cost you a bit more, but it can be worth it if the savings are decent.
Shop via outlet stores – you can save loads of money shopping via outlet stores like Amazon Warehouse or Office Offcuts.
They work by selling returned or slightly damaged products at a discounted rate, but usually any wear and tear is minor.
