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AIBU?

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What the hell happened to Cornettos?

92 replies

Ochtawa · 10/04/2026 11:16

They used to be posh. If you bought a Cornetto you were a classy discerning customer with an edge of sophistication that Mr Whippy purchasers could only dream of. From the highly concentrated syrup, to the smooth and luscious ice cream, to the thick crisp cone, they were a portable culinary delight.

So when I bought a pack in Home Bargains I congratulated myself on having come so far in the world that I could acquire not only one but six of these beauties all for myself.

But what a disappointment. They're tiny, for starters. The tiny squirts of syrup are pale and taste like a cold vegan fruit pastille. The ice cream is like a frozen version of some dodgy grey-goods marshmallow. And the cone is pale and soft. The entire thing is an abomination.

This happens so often now - I buy something to eat that used to be nice and it turns out it's now rubbish. Who the fuck decided to make our food nasty?

OP posts:
WiddlinDiddlin · 10/04/2026 18:33

Blame shrinkflation and also the sugar tax.

A lot of stuff got smaller when the permitted number of calories/sugar content for a single serving came in. It is also why certain chocolate bars that used to come as one big bar in the wrapper now comes as two smaller ones in the same wrapper, with a discreet '2 servings' listed somewhere on the packaging. You cannot call 1 large cornetto 2 servings... so they got smaller.

The soggy cones is either - crappy store management, they've slightly defrosted then refrozen, or cheap, shitty chocolate lining the inside so the moisture from the icecream makes the cone soggy. It is more apparent on the big brands as they're trying to decrease cost of making it/increase profit whilst keeping the product recognisable. The store own brand versions don't have the same limitations they can alter the recipe easily year on year as benefits their bottom line.

BikeShmike · 10/04/2026 18:32

We have tested and tasted too much
Through a chink too wide there comes in no wonder.

examworries2026 · 10/04/2026 18:29

Have you tried a Mr Whippy lately - they are absolutely vile

mixedpeel · 10/04/2026 18:26

Iceland’s own mint cornettos are far superior to the branded ones.

NewGoldFox · 10/04/2026 18:23

Treat yourself to a kinder cone, they are lovely! (But very expensive)

PeonyPatch · 10/04/2026 18:21

are they unbranded? If so, yabu. If they aren’t, yanbu.

Arlanymor · 10/04/2026 18:19

Motomum23 · 10/04/2026 11:55

Oh come on OP - you'd have chosen a cornetto as a child over Gino Ginelli ice cream that was ssoooo good only my mum was allowed to eat it??? 🤪🤪 and nothing is as good as whippy ice cream that's why pregnant ladies aren't allowed it!

Erm you're not allowed to mention that brand without doing the full: Gino o Gino Ginelli song lyrics. I don't make the rules sister, but come on.

WrinklesShminkles · 10/04/2026 13:01

The M&S version in a pack is nice.

Chiaseedling · 10/04/2026 12:58

I loved them as a kid, but I’m sure they’re much more upf now and shrinkflation is probably a factor too.
They were not better than MrWhippy, but I dread to think what’s in that these days!

Candleabra · 10/04/2026 12:56

smallglassbottle · 10/04/2026 12:23

The large food corporations buy up the brands and run them into the ground by relying on their name to ensure continuing sales. This only lasts so long, but still results in massive profits before people stop buying. You'll also always have a core of people who will still buy no matter how bad a product gets. This has what's happened to cadbury.

Cadbury really is garbage now, I think I’ve bought my last crème egg this year which is very disappointing (but not as disappointing as the crème egg)

IAmKerplunk · 10/04/2026 12:48

emmaliz · 10/04/2026 12:43

No!! What’s happened? Please tell me it’s not to do with that beautiful cheap chocolate centre?

The ice cream is now vanilla - the centre is either caramel or a tiny bit of chocolate that you can’t suck the ice cream around it off. It is very sad times

emmaliz · 10/04/2026 12:43

IAmKerplunk · 10/04/2026 12:25

Never mind cornettos - they have completely fucked over Feasts! 😱

No!! What’s happened? Please tell me it’s not to do with that beautiful cheap chocolate centre?

Serpentstooth · 10/04/2026 12:37

I always get my 'posh' shopping in Home Bargains as opposed to Iceland. Just gives it that special edge.😀

Crikeyalmightey · 10/04/2026 12:30

The Co op own brand ones are lovely. I have taste tested these vigorously for at least 3 summers. 😋

IAmKerplunk · 10/04/2026 12:25

Never mind cornettos - they have completely fucked over Feasts! 😱

smallglassbottle · 10/04/2026 12:23

The large food corporations buy up the brands and run them into the ground by relying on their name to ensure continuing sales. This only lasts so long, but still results in massive profits before people stop buying. You'll also always have a core of people who will still buy no matter how bad a product gets. This has what's happened to cadbury.

Matildatoldsuchdreadfullies · 10/04/2026 12:11

Aldi own brand are MUCH nicer. I bought a packet of cornettos on some kind of deal from Iceland (yes, I’m classy), and my young adult children all turned their noses up at them. The Aldi ones, in contrast, vanish before I’ve managed to stash them behind the frozen veg so that I can eat them in the freezer.

SwatTheTwit · 10/04/2026 12:11

Posh? Cornettos?

I thought the pinnacle of sophistication would have been the Magnum Classic

Sartre · 10/04/2026 12:09

The branded ones are AWFUL. The chocolate at the bottom is hideous and yes, they’re tiny. Morrisons hands down do the best ones, I’ve tried from just about every supermarket and theirs are best.

ThejoyofNC · 10/04/2026 12:07

I bought some recently and thought the same, I was pretty pissed off after paying nearly double for the branded ones.

I wonder if anyone can recommend any good own brand ones?

Motomum23 · 10/04/2026 11:55

Oh come on OP - you'd have chosen a cornetto as a child over Gino Ginelli ice cream that was ssoooo good only my mum was allowed to eat it??? 🤪🤪 and nothing is as good as whippy ice cream that's why pregnant ladies aren't allowed it!

MagnoliaTreeBlossom · 10/04/2026 11:51

Sensiblesal · 10/04/2026 11:39

Wonder if its the same for magnums? I bought a single one last summer from tesco - you can get it as the side for a meal deal.

you think its a good deal till you realise its half the size it used to be 😂😂

as for cornettos I usually buy the own brand ones nowadays, they do the job without me experiencing what the OP did & paying extortionate amounts of money for the pleasure

If you want to see a teeny tiny Magnum, buy a box of minis. I ordered them in an online shop and upon opening one thought Gulliver might like to accompany me on my adventure in Lilliput. 🤣🤣🤣

SqueakyFromme · 10/04/2026 11:51

Aldi versions are lovely

Arlanymor · 10/04/2026 11:49

Fruit gums were better when they were hard and had the scored surface, not these bendy fruit-stamp motif nonsenses that we have now. Just saying...

Goodallweek · 10/04/2026 11:48

They're so disappointing now, for me, that's mainly because the cones are so soft. Why have they changed the way they make the cones to make them so soft, who thinks that's better!