What is Ireland’s favourite tub of festive chocolates?

For this week’s Shopping Trolley hotline, Simon Tierney aims to settle an age-old debate that rears its head every Christmas.

He joined the Hard Shoulder this week to discuss the pros and cons of Quality Street, Roses and Celebrations to decide once and for all which is the best.

Purchased in Dunnes Stores, each box cost “about €4 each,” according to Mr Tierney.

They cost €3.99 in Lidl and the same in Tesco if you have a Clubcard, otherwise that cost rises to €6.50.

While the three iconic Christmas chocolate tub favourites are matched in price, the same can not be said for the quantity.

“Celebrations has 65 chocolates, Quality Streets has 63 chocolates, but Roses has just 52 chocolates,” said Mr Tierney.

“When you look at the weight on the back, Quality Street and Celebrations are both 600g but Roses, the Cadbury’s product, is 550g.”

Mr Tierney told the show that buying Roses would get you “less bang for your buck” than the alternatives.

Nostalgia

He said festive chocolate tubs are all about the experience.

“There’s a reason these are in a tub - there’s a nostalgic element at play here,” said Mr Tierney.

“We remember when these were much larger tins of chocolate that were really special.

“Your mum or your grandmother might have gotten one and you’d enjoy them over the course of the Christmas period together.”

I laid out all the Quality Street, Roses & Celebrations like soldiers, ready to march into your belly...

Celebrations: 65 sweets
Quality Street: 63 sweets
Roses: 52 sweets

The Shopping Trolley Hotline, 5.30pm on @TheHardShoulder on @NewstalkFM 🍬 pic.twitter.com/jkCYrFBF9g

— Simon Tierney (@tierneysimon) November 29, 2023

Mr Tierney noted that packaging puts Quality Street ahead of the others.

“Another thing I don’t like with Roses is the chocolates are all in plastic packages now,” he said.

“They used to be in much nicer foil packages, but they have followed the route of Celebrations in going to plastic.

“Quality Street is unsealed and you really get that good smell when opening a box. It takes you back and it smells like your Granny’s house.”

When it came to the taste test, Kieran Cuddihy tried an orange chocolate from each tub.

He decided Quality Street was the best value for money in terms of taste, quantity and quality.

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