SHOPPERS are racing to get their hands on a rare Fanta flavour spotted on the shelves at a major budget retailer.
The discount chain is known for its whopping deals and wide selection of interesting, international food and drinks.
Home Bargain customers were left delighted when one eagle-eyed shopper spotted a peach Fanta on the retailer’s shelves – a drink usually only available in Japan.
News of the sparkling drink was shared on the Facebook group, Food Finds UK Official.
Swiping for just £1.59, the Fanta flavour is flying off shelves as Brits rush to get a taste of the interesting new drinks, which many have lauded as the “the best flavour yet”.
One customer said: “One of the better ones, it has a light herbal flavor to it as well. I love fanta in Asia.”
While another revelled in the price, saying: “I can only ever find these at some Asian supermarkets and exotic snack stores for like $10 a bottle.”
It’s not the first time the retailer has sold never-seen before Fanta flavours with a pear one making an appearance on shelves earlier this week.
The firm also launched Fanta Apple Zero Sugar, Fanta Raspberry Zero Sugar, and the limited-edition Fanta Tutti Frutti Zero Sugar earlier this month, much to the delight of many.
Others, however, haven’t been so keen – feeling the new flavours had gone “a little too far”.
One shopper even described the apple variety as “gross”.
The new releases join a wave of creative drinks hitting shelves this year.
Coca‑Cola recently launched Orange Cream, a blend of classic cola with orange and vanilla, available in both regular and zero‑sugar versions.
It will be available in the UK until the end of the year.
Meanwhile, Diet Cherry Coke is making a return across the US this summer in retro 1980s packaging, though launch details remain limited.
In a separate move, Coca‑Cola is preparing to roll out a version of its original cola sweetened with cane sugar this autumn.
While Pepsi released the Wild Cherry & Cream in January, mixing rich cherry and smooth vanilla flavours.
Pepsi is also entering the health‑conscious market with Pepsi Prebiotic Cola, in Original and Cherry Vanilla.
The new range includes cane sugar and added prebiotic fibre, as the brand targets a growing demand for gut‑friendly fizzy drinks.
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.
