SHOPPERS have shared their devastation after noticing a popular M&S drink has vanished just months before Christmas.
Eagle-eyed customers have raised concerns after its pre-mixed cans of Pink Gin and Tonic have been removed from stores.
Taking to X, formally known as Twitter, an upset customer said the news was a “crime“.
They wrote: “Discontinuing its tinned pink G&T’s is a crime against all the beautiful and fun-loving people.”
The alcoholic beverage has been a hit with shoppers for over a decade but was quietly axed from stores at the end of last year.
The 25cl tin contained 8% gin and was infused with cranberries.
One shopper described it as their “go-to” tipple on social media.
Meanwhile, another said it tasted like “strawberry jelly” and was their “favourite thing ever”.
But now an M&S spokesperson has confirmed to The Sun that the pre-mixed cans are no more.
M&S Spokesperson said - ‘At M&S Food we are constantly innovating and refreshing our range, reacting to trends, and customer feedback.
“We are famous for offering a great selection of cocktails in a can, with new flavours including the delicious Blood Orange Margarita and Cherry Mai Thai, with more exciting launches in the pipeline. ”
They added: “Although the Pink Gin & Tonic is currently not available, we always listen to customer feedback when reviewing future ranges”.
It is not unusual for M&S to switch up its product ranges.
Last week, The Sun revealed its vegan range was undergoing a major revamp, which would see meat alternatives sold alongside traditional meat products.
As part of the change, products such as the Plant Kitchen Margherita Sourdough Pizza will not return to stores until January.
This has not impressed some customers with one describing it as a “terrible” idea in a Reddit post.
Earlier this year the store said it would axe some of the treats from its Colin and Connie sweet range as part of a product relaunch.
Over the summer, M&S scrapped its Colin and Connie “Together Forever” sweets.
M&S also confirmed that it is quietly axing the Colin The Caterpillar Fizzy Rainbow sweets.
The sweets were rainbow in colour with a sour sugary coating.
What else is new at M&S?
Thankfully, it is not all doom and gloom for M&S shoppers as the retailer confirmed it will bring back an iconic drink this Christmas.
The supermarket’s original snow globe gin liqueur will make a return for the holidays after a hiatus.
Previously, the gin came in two flavours – Clementine and Spiced Sugar Plum – but this year, only the Clementine one will be sold.
The store has started rolling out its entire Christmas range to shoppers, which includes hot honey over halloumi in blankets brie brulee, and Turkey Feast dip.
M&S’s food-to-order range for the holidays is also now open for online orders and collection between December 22 and December 24.
Why are products axed or recipes changed?
ANALYSIS by chief consumer reporter James Flanders.
Food and drinks makers have been known to tweak their recipes or axe items altogether.
They often say that this is down to the changing tastes of customers.
There are several reasons why this could be done.
For example, government regulation, like the “sugar tax,” forces firms to change their recipes.
Some manufacturers might choose to tweak ingredients to cut costs.
They may opt for a cheaper alternative, especially when costs are rising to keep prices stable.
For example, Tango Cherry disappeared from shelves in 2018.
It has recently returned after six years away but as a sugar-free version.
Fanta removed sweetener from its sugar-free alternative earlier this year.
Suntory tweaked the flavour of its flagship Lucozade Original and Orange energy drinks.
While the amount of sugar in every bottle remains unchanged, the supplier swapped out the sweetener aspartame for sucralose.
