Cadbury reviews 99 Flake complaints over white tinge
Cadbury is reviewing complaints from ice cream van operators after numerous 99 flake deliveries were reported with a white tinge. One seller said the discolouration made the bars look unappetising and impossible to sell.
Cadbury said, "We are reviewing what's happened to get back to the high-quality people expect from us." The seller who raised the complaint was told to return the Flakes to his wholesaler, while operators said the issue could worsen if hot weather continues.
Ice cream van complaints
The complaint centres on Flakes that vendors say arrived discoloured. They believe the problem comes from wholesalers storing the chocolate improperly during hot weather, with a summer heatwave likely to make supply problems worse.
One ice cream seller tied the issue to customer expectations around the product. "We're coming into summer. If we get a heatwave next week, Flakes are going to fly out. People expect Cadbury and I don't want to use other brands," he said.
He added: "99 is an established name - you can't cheat and put something else in it. It's got to be a Cadbury Flake."
99 and Mr Whippy
A 99 or Mr Whippy ice cream remains a British favourite, and the trademarked Mr Whippy ice cream company says its ice cream is "made primarily from skim milk and cream." The product is closely linked to the Cadbury Flake topping, which gives the complaint immediate practical weight for sellers who rely on that branding.
The most widely accepted theory of the treat's origin dates back to 1922, when Stefano Arcari relocated to Portobello, Scotland after the First World War and established a popular ice-cream parlour at 99 Portobello High Street. Arcari reportedly snapped a traditional Flake in two and placed it into his soft serve.
For sellers, the immediate issue is not the origin story but the supply line: if more bars arrive with the same white tinge, they may have to keep turning to wholesalers for replacements while waiting for Cadbury's review to run its course.
