SHOPPERS have been left gutted after Sainsbury’s discontinued a £2.30 item dubbed the “freshest ever” in all its UK stores.
The supermarket giant apologised to customers after they were desperately searching for the popular product.
The affordable item was a hit amongst shoppers[/caption]
On X, one customer wrote: “Please can you tell me if Respect eggs are going to return at Sainsburys Cannock.”
They supermarket responded: “I’m really sorry but the eggs have been discontinued. Products are removed due to a number of factors, this could be popularity or to do with the supplier.”
Respectful Eggs is a free-range independent brand of carbon-neutral chicken eggs, which were previously available in-store for just £2.30.
They proved a big hit with shoppers, with five-star reviews claiming how “great” and “brilliant” the eggs were.
One customer said: ” [They are] very nearly as fresh as buying from a farm.”
Despite their broad appeal, Sainsbury’s has confirmed that the eggs have been discontinued from its stores.
Though it did not confirm the exact reason for taking them off the shelves, a supermarket spokesperson said it was down to a “number of factors”.
Customers have expressed their keen disappointment with one calling it “the end of civilisation as we know it.”
Disgruntled shoppers will be relieved to hear, however, that a six-pack of the eggs can still be purchased at Ocado for £2.25 and Waitrose for £2.50.
This isn’t the first time the supermarket has axed a popular item.
Last year, Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Demerera Shortbread Rounds, which were previously on sale for £2.45 for 200g of biscuits, were pulled from the shelves.
On X, one person wrote: “Hey @sainsburys I’ve not been able to get your Sainsbury’s Demerera Shortbread Rounds, Taste the Difference 200g biscuits for months – is there a supply chain issue – Mrs O going insane without her fix!”
The supermarket responded: “Hi there Richard, unfortunately, this item has been discontinued.”
The man replied: “This is an actual tragedy! She has sent me to the store specifically for these for the last 15 years! She has only just got over the loss of the muller rhubarb and custard corner and that was 20 years ago…RIP sugary friends.”
Vanishing products
Grocers regularly pull items from shelves if they do not perform well or make way for new items.
M&S confirmed last year that it axed its Cocoa & Cherry Bircher pot.
The tub was a popular breakfast snack for many customers who like to eat on the go.
Meanwhile, the Sun revealed eight nostalgic foods that have disappeared from supermarket shelves over the years.
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.
