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### Jim's Corner ###
Hi All,
Today we have a special edition of '7Days of Chocolate Reviews'. You get an extra special mini rant alongside all your usual chocolate news and posts from others blogs. I would really welcome your comments.
Coming up this week - more Heavenly Cakes, Hotel Chocolat and Zotter to name a few!
Have great weeks.
JIM
News from the chocolate market:
* A company called Paterson's are launching a new line of cookies ... See HERE
* Cadbury are launching three new products ... See HERE ... my Crunchie Rocks review is up tomorrow.
* Naughty Ainsley Harriot and his unhealthy chocolate bars ... who would of thought chocolate could be bad for you ... See HERE
* These new McVities biscuit cereal bars have got my attention ... See HERE
* Victoria Beckham has banned Goldenballs from chocolate ... man up David ... See HERE
Posts from other blogs I enjoyed this week
* GiGi Reviews - Gi tackles the 3 Musketeers Truffle Crisp bars - my review is coming shortly ... See HERE
* Foodstufffinds - Cin has tried the new limited edition caramel flavoured Frijj - its not as good as the Cookie Dough in my opinion ... See HERE
* Impulsive Buy - I don't approve of anyone consuming Haagen-Dazs but this was a nice review of the new Banana Forster flavour ... See HERE
* Jen's Kit Kat Blog - Jen reviews the latest Semi-Sweet flavour Kit Kat from Japan ... See HERE
* Candy Blog - whilst we are on the Kit Kat thing it is very much worth reading Cybele's reviews of a number of flavours I have featured recently. Great pictures and a wonderful read ... SEE HERE
RANT TIME!!!
Hi All,
Today we have a special edition of '7Days of Chocolate Reviews'. You get an extra special mini rant alongside all your usual chocolate news and posts from others blogs. I would really welcome your comments.
Coming up this week - more Heavenly Cakes, Hotel Chocolat and Zotter to name a few!
Have great weeks.
JIM
News from the chocolate market:
* A company called Paterson's are launching a new line of cookies ... See HERE
* Cadbury are launching three new products ... See HERE ... my Crunchie Rocks review is up tomorrow.
* Naughty Ainsley Harriot and his unhealthy chocolate bars ... who would of thought chocolate could be bad for you ... See HERE
* These new McVities biscuit cereal bars have got my attention ... See HERE
* Victoria Beckham has banned Goldenballs from chocolate ... man up David ... See HERE
Posts from other blogs I enjoyed this week
* GiGi Reviews - Gi tackles the 3 Musketeers Truffle Crisp bars - my review is coming shortly ... See HERE
* Foodstufffinds - Cin has tried the new limited edition caramel flavoured Frijj - its not as good as the Cookie Dough in my opinion ... See HERE
* Impulsive Buy - I don't approve of anyone consuming Haagen-Dazs but this was a nice review of the new Banana Forster flavour ... See HERE
* Jen's Kit Kat Blog - Jen reviews the latest Semi-Sweet flavour Kit Kat from Japan ... See HERE
* Candy Blog - whilst we are on the Kit Kat thing it is very much worth reading Cybele's reviews of a number of flavours I have featured recently. Great pictures and a wonderful read ... SEE HERE
RANT TIME!!!
Once upon a time brands here in the UK actually stood for something, but increasingly we are seeing them widdle away all their heritage and equity.A prime example of this would be these Cadbury Jaffa Cakes priced at 45p in my local Tesco - thats bettter than a 50% discount on the equivalent McVities Jaffa Cakes which cost £1.19. Out of curiosity I bought some to see how they compared. The packaging looked ok and Cadbury is a brand I trust - so why not!?
To be honest I wish I hadn't, as what I tasted was as abysmal as it was depressing. The cake bits were flavourless and felt stale in the mouth, whilst the chocolate was nothing like as flavoursome as usual Cadbury standards. Compared to the McVitie's Jaffas the orange filling was not as zingy or impactful ... the whole thing was just sub-standard.
So what on earth are Cadbury doing? What is the point releasing a product that is so obviously below the standard people expect? Not only has this made me rethink buying such Cadbury products in the future, but it has also made me think twice about whether they care about quality as much as they used to. I can understand to an extent getting a quick, cheap win agaisnt a competitor in the market, but is that really worth risking what consumers think about your brand? Its shorttermism to the extreme.
This isn't just an isolated incident, working in FMCG I see this happening all around our UK supermarkets. Another example is Hellmann's Ketchup and Heinz Mayonnaise, both are half of the price of the others core brand offerings, whilst they are also completely inferior.
I could whittle on all day with examples, but it seems pointless as our most loved brands seem content in throwing away years of brand heritage. My advice to consumers is to stick with what you know - half price products may look tempting, but believe me quality is always worth paying that little bit extra for.
It would be great to hear some more opinions on this matter!
Oh and just if if you were wondering here is the score chart ....nice huh!?
Posts
22 comments:
Maybe you should try LU PIM's jaffa cakes. On the website they list only the orange and raspberry versions, but here we get also cherry and apricot ones.
Those new Cadbury products ound cool, and nice to see the Nibbles go into the small pack! I tried the crunchie rocks, I'll comment tomorrow on it! lol
I do see where you're coming from with the way brands are branching out into areas that they probably don't need to etc etc. And usually I tend to buy the brand that is best known for something (i.e Heinz beans over say Branston beans or HP beans).
That said, there will be many people prefering HP beans to Heinz, or the Heinz mayonaise over the Hellmans. They may not taste the same but it doesn't necessarily make it inferior. Also for people on a budget who still want to buy a 'brand', who can't afford the brand leader but still like the cheaper product it's a blesing.
We don't buy jaffa cakes very often, but I think we have tried these Cadbury ones at some point and as far as I can remember thought them ok lol (I preferred the Cadbury jaffa rolls over the Mcvities ones aswell). Many years ago when I was a kid and we had little money, I'd have rather had Cadbury Jaffa cakes at 45p than having a packet of supermarket basics 'shortbread' (those horrible little square ones that taste of nothing) for the same price.
I do completely see where you're coming from, but I think it's not quite as black and white as it seems. Thats my view on it anyway :) lol
You are so right about Cadburys. They keep on trying to make all those cake things.
I dont see what you are getting at. Its not as if you had to buy them was it. Cadbury are just making a more affordable product. Not everyone can fork out for brands all the time.
Lol what a rubbish score. I will stick the mcvities ones thank you very much.
I hate seeing brands make really cheap copy versions of other branded goods. I dont mind it when the supermarkets do it because that is always good to give people the option. I agree that brands need to stick to what they do best. If they dont they will just become meaningless.
Those jaffas look no different at all from the normal ones in your picture. They do sound nasty though. I will make sure my mum isn't tempted in to buying them lol she is a Tescos shopper after all.
Dx
I can see what Mark is saying. For some people who can't afford the more expensive option, a secondary branded product that is half the price is the best they can afford. It isn't quite as cheap as the supermarket own stuff, but it still being cheap makes it the more attractive prospect. LOL they do sound a bit disgusting.
I look forward to seeing your review of the Cadburys rocks. I am going to buy some today so I will tell you what I think tomorrow.
We have a pack of these in our cupboard at the moment. I think I will leave them alone if they are as poor as you say. They scored pretty yuck.
Is this the worst score for a Cadbury product ever jim? By the sounds of it they deserve it. I don't think I would ever buy anything but Mcvities when it comes to Jaffa cakes. Any others just wouldn't see right.
I see what people mean re cost, but isn't that what supermarket own-label is for? Brands are always trying to cash-in on their names and with someone like Cadbury it cheapens their image. Everyone regards Cadbury as quality, so they shouldn't be making crappy products thinking people will buy it just because it's them.
To add to the ranting lol, I am starting to get annoyed with Cadbury for no longer using Dairy Milk in all their products. I had some of their caramel biscuits the other week and they were so sweet it just ruined it for me.
Jim sorry to go off topic slightly but have you tried the new lemon flavoured jaffa cakes. They are seriosuly good I would love for you to review them please.
I see both sides of the story here but I am really disappointed that a company like cadbury would release a product as pants as this. I would probably of been tempted at half the price.
Lol great rant jim. Who do you work for?
Ana I have tried those LU jaffas before and I thought they were brilliant. They are very different to the mcvitie ones we get here in the uk. The orange isn't as nice but the cake bit is, it depends which bit you prefer depending on whether you would like them more or less I think. The apricot ones sound v interesting.
Is this a bad time to chip in and say I hate jaffa cakes lol?
I'm looking forward to a Crunchie Rocks review. I had some today :-)
This has been happening in the states for years now. Just be thankful that it has only started happening for you guys. So many of our brands have just spread themselves across way too many markets here. The only example I can think of straight off is Budweiser BBQ sauce. Its so bad.
Buddweiser BBQ sauce? LOL! Whatever next, marmite cheesecake?
Everyone
Thanks for sharing all your views. It has made for a nice debate.
I see the point that people are trying to make about the price being attractive for those who can't afford the Mcvities Jaffa Cakes but my own reponse to that is that is what the tertiary supermarket brands are there for.
To be honest the reason this annoyed me all so much was because it was a pointless product for them to make and it simply wasn't to the standard we would expect from Cadbury. Why bother with products like this when they can focus on more important things like the Crunchie Rocks I have reviews today?
It isn't as black and white as I may have put, but I think that 9 times out of 10 companies and their brands are much better off sticking to what they know best.
In response to some of your questions ...
Ana - I have never seen those LU Jaffas I will keep an eye out.
Lauren - I am not too sure, I think they might be you know! I will update the leaderboards one evening when I have the time.
Anon - Probably best I keep my job to myself :D
Tom - We get that Buedweiser BBQ sauce here in the UK I think. Thanks for warning me off it.
Phil - Marmite cheesecake!? Seriosuly I wouldn't put it past them :D
Thanks everyone! I am sure there will be more rants in the near future
JIM
I see what you mean although I still dunno about the supermarket brands being there for those lookimng for a cheaper option - I was in Spar today and their brand jaffa cakes were 89p - considrably more than those Cadbury ones, and I know I'd always choose the Csdbury ones over the spar branded (unless i had tried both and genuinely preferred Spar ones, but they are twice the price lol)
I agree, the Jaffa cakes I had were dreadful. the Asda smartprice ones are better at half the price. Best Jaffa's I have tasted are the ones from Lidl - lots of flavour and more cake like than any I've tasted.
Another poor Cadbury's product is "shoots" - tastes like real cheap and nasty copies of Mini Eggs.
Though to win them Kudos I thought their Crunchie Rocks were fantastic, especially at only £1 a bag at Sainsburys a few weeks back
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