Limited edition Bounty-free tubs will contain extra Mars, Snickers, Milky Way, Galaxy, and Maltesers candies to compensate for the absence of Bounty.

This Christmas, it may be much more difficult to obtain Bounty bars in Celebrations tubs.

Mars Wrigley made the controversial decision to remove them from some tubs in a trial after discovering that 39% of consumers want the coconut-flavored candies eliminated permanently.

Customers at select Tesco Christmas Market locations will have until December 18 to swap tubs purchased that day for a new “No Bounty” version.

To compensate for the absence of Bounty bars, the limited-edition tubs will have additional Mars, Snickers, Milky Way, Galaxy, and Maltesers candies.

18% of 2,000 British adults aged 18 to 65 surveyed by Mars Wrigley would be annoyed if they discovered only Bounty bars in the tub, while 58% thought it would lead to a family fight.

While 39% desired the bars to be eliminated permanently, 22% dislike Bounty the most among the tub’s options.

Some 28% of respondents believed coconut had no place in a chocolate bar.

More mature palette

However, Mars Wrigley stated that it was not yet prepared to make a final choice after 18% of respondents chose the Bounty as their preferred flavor.

38% of those over the age of 55 indicated that it was their preferred bar, according to a poll.

It follows last year’s Bounty Return Scheme, in which Bounty haters could exchange their undesired chocolates for Maltesers following the holiday season.

Emily Owen, senior brand manager for Celebrations, stated: “You do not realize what you have until it is gone. And for those devoted – and secret – Bounty fans, there is still a chance they will return beyond the trial.”

The test is being implemented at 40 Tesco Christmas Market locations.