Fans go ape for Wispas

Oct 8 2007 By Jasbir Authi, Birmingham Mail

SHSHHH! One of the worst-kept secrets in confectionery history is finally out in the open.

Wispa, the iconic 80s chocolate bar, was relaunched in stores across the country following a long internet campaign to bring it back from the dead.

Bournville-based Cadbury have produced 23 million limited edition bars to test the market before deciding whether to start-up full-time production of the bar again.

Customers at the Spar store on Watford Road, in Cotteridge, were amongst the first to get their hands on the Wispa bars as they hit the shelves at midnight.

The 'Phil Collins' gorilla from the more recent adverts was also there, along with customers who had been buying tickets in their droves to win a year's supply of chocolate.

To stop chocoholics feeling guilty, all proceeds will go to the NSPCC.

Meanwhile Cadbury workers from the city will join a protest to stop the Bristol plant of the company closing with the loss of 500 jobs.

The protest at the Somerdale factory gates tomorrow, follows last week's announcement 200 jobs are to go at the Bournville site, with some production heading to Poland.

The protest takes place ahead of a meeting between senior managers and national and regional officials of the union Unite.

Andy Frampton, regional secretary for the south west, said the news was "fantastic support" for the campaign.