Breaking news

Toblerone ‘Disappoints’ Devotees By Dropping Iconic Dark Chocolate Bar

by News Editor

April 18, 2025

Fans of Toblerone’s iconic dark chocolate bar are in for a bitter surprise: after 56 years on shelves, the 360g version is being quietly discontinued—at least in the UK.

The move was confirmed by a spokesperson from Mondelez, the U.S. company behind the Swiss-born brand, who acknowledged the decision “may be disappointing for some consumers.” No clear explanation was offered, though Mondelez assured it remains committed to investing in Toblerone’s future.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

The decision follows months of confusion, with frustrated fans turning to social media in search of answers. “I’ve been looking everywhere,” one user posted on X, formerly Twitter, after Toblerone’s team previously denied the product had been pulled.

The discontinuation is the latest twist in Toblerone’s recent identity shift. In 2023, the brand was forced to drop the iconic Matterhorn mountain from its packaging due to Swiss “Swissness” laws, which prevent companies from using national symbols on products not entirely produced in Switzerland.

When Mondelez moved some of Toblerone’s production to Slovakia, the brand had to swap the 4,478-metre alpine peak for a more generic summit to stay compliant. These regulations, introduced in 2017, require that milk-based products labelled “Swiss” must be made exclusively in the country. For other foods, at least 80% of the ingredients must be of Swiss origin.

These rules matter: research shows consumers are willing to pay around 20% more for items marketed as “Made in Switzerland.”

Launched in 1908 in Bern, Toblerone was born from a clever blend of its creator Theodor Tobler’s name and “torrone,” the Italian word for nougat. The brand’s unique triangle shape and honey-almond flavour earned it global fame, but today’s changes reflect a broader tension between nostalgia and modern commercial reality.

With iconic visuals gone and a fan-favourite product now shelved, Toblerone faces a delicate balancing act: preserving its heritage while adapting to global production and regulation shifts.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties

Cypriot Government Employment Sees Modest Growth in April

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

May 12, 2025

Total government employment in Cyprus increased by 237 persons, a rise of 0.4 per cent, in April, compared to the same month in 2024, reaching a total of 55,490 employees, according to the state statistical service.

Employment in the civil service and the security forces decreased by 1.2 per cent and 1.1 per cent respectively, while the educational service saw an increase of 3.8 per cent.

Civil Service and Educational Service Breakdown

In April 2025, the civil service employed 11,960 permanent staff, 4,141 employees with contracts of indefinite duration, 1,458 with contracts of definite duration, and 5,798 hourly paid workers.

Permanent employees represented the highest proportion of the civil service workforce at 51.2 per cent, while employees with contracts of definite duration made up the lowest proportion at 6.2 per cent.

In the educational service, there were 12,461 permanent employees, 947 with contracts of indefinite duration, 4,824 with contracts of definite duration, and 141 hourly paid workers.

Permanent staff formed the majority of the educational workforce at 67.8 per cent, while hourly paid workers accounted for only 0.8 per cent.

Security Forces Breakdown

Within the security forces, 8,430 were permanent employees, 4,304 held contracts of indefinite duration, 267 were on definite-duration contracts, and 759 were hourly paid workers.

Permanent employees again made up the largest group in the security forces at 61.3 per cent, with definite-duration contracts representing just 1.9 per cent.