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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be annoyed at M&S

26 replies

cakeoclock · 06/12/2011 12:26

I bought some advent calendars from M&S for the kids. I bought them thinking the chocs would be nice and still characters on the front.

Both kids have refused the chocs since day 2 so today I tried one and thought "urghh they are off" looked at the back and there in tiny writing it says they are made by Kinnerton! These are exactly the brand I was avoiding and could have got for a fraction of the cost elsewhere!

There is a big Marks and Spencer logo on the front of the calendars. AIBU to think this is NOT ON! I feel cheated and now have to substitute each day with a couple of chocolate buttons! Xmas Angry

OP posts:
Sparklingbaubles · 06/12/2011 12:28

Ewwwww. DH says Kinnerton is akin to 'doggy chocolate'. YADNBU

valiumredhead · 06/12/2011 12:33

If your child has a nut allergy then Kinnerton advent calenders will be like manna from heaven Grin

Sparklingbaubles · 06/12/2011 12:34

Really valium? Is there nut in most other chocolate?

valiumredhead · 06/12/2011 12:36

Kinnerton is made in a nut free factory so it is great for allergic kids. Very hard to find nut free advent calendars and xmas chocs.

Almondroca · 06/12/2011 12:36

I was in Thorntons recently asking about nut free products and they said I could get some of their advent calendars because they were made in the Kinnerton factory (so would be from a nut free environment)....but they use Thornton's recipe. Maybe M&S ones are like that?

Or maybe not if they didn't taste nice....just a thought.

Pandemoniaa · 06/12/2011 12:38

I can see why you'd be annoyed but it was for you to check whether the chocolates were made by Kinnerton - if necessary by reading the tiny print. M & S, to the best of my knowledge at not chocolate manufacturers so it would have to be sourced from outside.

But I think advent calendar chocolate is pretty shit anyway. Who knows how long it has been hanging around behind closed doors?

I always used to get traditional Advent calendars and fresh packets of chocolate buttons. One was handed out to each dc when the advent calendar door was opened. There was never any wastage because I scoffed them for elevenses or nasty tasting chocolate.

AKMD · 06/12/2011 12:40

My DS's Thornton's advent calendar has such miserably small pieces of chocolate in it this year that I may as well give him a chocolate button.

Sparklingbaubles · 06/12/2011 12:41

I didn't know that valium. I feel fortunate that neither DS has any sort of allergy, it must be v hard. Things they take for granted etc...

ruddynorah · 06/12/2011 12:42

M&S chocolate is all thorntons, so if thorntons have got kinnerton doing their advent calendars then theirs will be too. People like to know they're nut free.

limitedperiodonly · 06/12/2011 12:44

Take them back. I don't care about the small print - I need reading glasses, dammit Grin.

M&S bang on about the quality of the food so much so it's reasonable to expect the chocolate to be nice.

Original poster
cakeoclock · 06/12/2011 12:46

That's fine but then don't put M&S on the front. I buy M&S chocolates in boxes and bars (do the still do Sparks bars?) and they are lovely. This chocolate is NOT the same at all.

OP posts:
valiumredhead · 06/12/2011 12:46

Since when has ANY advent calendar chocolate been 'nice' though, seriously?

Original poster
cakeoclock · 06/12/2011 12:48

What next? Will I have the read the small print on the back of my frozen M&S food to make sure it's not actually made by Iceland? Nothing against Iceland I just wouldn't want to pay M&S prices for the stuff!

OP posts:
Original poster
cakeoclock · 06/12/2011 12:48

Valium you obviously haven't had a Hotel Chocolat advent calendar. Heaven!

OP posts:
valiumredhead · 06/12/2011 12:50

I thought all M and S stuff was made elsewhere now - they used to have their own factories ( St Michael's?) but when they nearly went bust a while back they had to start stocking goods made elsewhere. Or have I made that up completely? Confused

How much was the calendar OP?

bagpuss · 06/12/2011 12:52

YANBU, next year buy some Cadbury ones, they are yum according to my dcs Grin

limitedperiodonly · 06/12/2011 12:52

I'm partial to a Cadbury's advent calendar myself.

I don't like M&S chocolate but that's because it's not to my taste. Thorntons isn't either.

But if M&S is selling Kinnerton's chocolate apparently under its own label that's very naughty. After all, if they're so proud of the association why such small print?

Original poster
cakeoclock · 06/12/2011 12:53

No idea, not overly expensive maybe 3quid each? I could have got them a Kinnerton one for less than a quid! Cadbury all the way next year!

OP posts:
Xmasbaby11 · 06/12/2011 12:57

I think Thortons usually do M and S chocs - everything is outsourced; they don't make their own. Obviously in some cases they use cheapo suppliers. Good to be warned!

RachelHRD · 06/12/2011 12:57

Sainsburys ones are OK I pinched one of DSs quality checked one of DS's and the chocolate isn't too bad :)

limitedperiodonly · 06/12/2011 12:59

So Thorntons and M&S are the same? That must be why I don't like either of them.

valiumredhead · 06/12/2011 13:01

Yes, Kinnerton ones are 99p everywhere else.

Crosshair · 06/12/2011 13:03

Kinnerton chocs do taste like poo.

Go for a Cadbury calender!

RomanChristingle · 06/12/2011 13:09

Kinnerton chocolate is foul but I get it for the kids as they'd rather have Hello Kitty/Thomas The Tank than quality chocolate. Cadbury's/Mars should do character ones. (Nestle chocolate tastes like Kinnerton too imo but more expensive).

AteAWholePacketOfBiccys · 06/12/2011 13:15

Cheap advent chocolate is vile. It will take til next Christmas to get that skanky aftertaste out of your mouths.