Quality Street makes two major changes to chocolate tubs for Christmas 2026

There are a few changes for 2026 (Picture: Peter Dazeley/Getty Images) Are you a Quality Street, a Roses, a Celebrations, or a Heroes household? In the UK, we can’t resist having a tub of chocolates in for Christmas, and many families will be loyal to one brand. If your go-to is Nestlé’s Quality Street, keep reading, as there are some big changes this year. Before you panic too much, the chocolates themselves haven’t changed, and the line-up of favourites is still the same, but there’s bad news for those who love the Pick & Mix. Since 2018, John Lewis has had a dedicated Quality Street Pick & Mix station in its stores each Christmas. This allowed shoppers to make up their own boxes of the festive chocolates to their liking, picking their top options and ditching the ones no one ever eats. But for the first time in eight years, the retailer has confirmed it won’t be offering the service this year, leaving fans saying they’re ‘devastated’ and ‘gutted’ in posts on social media. And it’s not just the Pick & Mix being ditched; John Lewis won’t be stocking any Quality Street chocolates, so you’ll have to buy them elsewhere. A message on the John Lewis website reads: ‘Quality Street will not be available in John Lewis this year, but we have lots of gifting options available for you to explore.’ Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. Customers wanting to buy chocolates from John Lewis will instead be able to shop the likes of Hotel Chocolat, Butlers, and Tony’s Chocolonely. Nestlé’s paper tubs launched in Tesco in 2024 (Picture: Nestlé) The other major change is that Nestlé has confirmed the paper tubs are being axed. For the last two years, the chocolates were available in more sustainable packaging at Tesco, as part of a trial. These tubs were embellished with gold foil to create a ‘luxurious design and feel’, and were fully recyclable. People were sceptical about the change when it was introduced in 2024, with some adamant that the paper box somehow meant the chocolate wouldn’t ‘taste the same’. On X, a user known as @bejokex said: ‘They taste different in paper. Won’t be buying!’ While @ShorehamReads asked: ‘How is my Grandma going to store her sewing kit in there for the next thirty years?’ A few also claimed that this was ‘one change too many’ for the brand, after the controversial move from shiny wrappers to paper ones on the sweets. Quality Street tubs won’t be available at John Lewis this year (Picture: Shutterstock / etorres) A Nestlé spokesperson has confirmed that the tubs won’t be returning in 2026, but hinted that they aren’t gone for good. They said: ‘We won’t be trialling our Quality Street paper tub this year. We’re using our experience from 2024 and 2025 to make further developments. ‘Watch this space as we continue to explore its role, with the ambition to bring it back on a bigger scale in the future.’ Which chocolate tub do you buy at Christmas? Sign up to Metro's The Slice newsletter for your guide to what's on in London, with trusted reviews, offers and giveaways. This comes after Cadbury introduced a major change to Heroes this year, allowing fans to customise their boxes for the very first time. There is a bit of a catch, though. You won’t be able to do this in any supermarkets. The option to customise is only available if you’re ordering the chocolates online. Cadbury has launched a brand new virtual shop, giving fans a new way to buy and send their all-time favourite treats. On the new site, you’ll also be able to create your own Cadbury Pick & Mix boxes ahead of Christmas. Deals of the Day The Orlando holiday deal Disney fans shouldn't miss We're adding this discounted NEOM gift set straight to basket Want an LED face mask for less? This Black Friday deal could save you hundreds This teeth whitening sale could save you up to 64% before Black Friday These Simba Black Friday deals are too good for tired shoppers to ignore There are two options for this – a Cadbury Heroes Pick & Mix where you can customise a giant box of chocolates, or a Cadbury Postal Selection Box, which will feature bigger 180g bars such as Fruit & Nut or classic Dairy Milk. Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk Arrow MORE: TV viewers find secret message hidden in Aldi Christmas advert Arrow MORE: Cadbury fans run to B&M for revived twist on discontinued chocolate bar Arrow MORE: Charity praised for ‘powerful’ Christmas film about homeless mother and daughter The Slice Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.