Fans have not seen the last of Klondike’s Choco Taco.
The Unilever-owned ice cream novelty brand has revealed that it is looking to bring back its beloved Choco Taco just days after facing backlash from consumers over its decision to discontinue the product.
“We know this is disappointing – we’ve heard our fans, and we’re hoping to bring this favorite treat back to ice cream trucks in the coming years!” read a tweet posted by the brand’s official Twitter account in direct response to one heartbroken fan who had been looking all over in her “area and surrounding cities” for the last of the Choco Tacos but had come up short.
We know this is disappointing – we’ve heard our fans, and we’re hoping to bring this favorite treat back to ice cream trucks in the coming years!
— Klondike (@Klondikebar) August 3, 2022
The frozen dessert’s exact return date is unclear, but a number of prominent figures have offered to help the brand bring the treat back to the market as soon as possible. One of those is Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian, who made an offer to take over the production of the production.
“Dear @Unilever — I’d like to buy the rights to your Choco Taco and keep it from melting away from future generations’ childhoods. I can’t let this happen. Not to America. Not on my watch,” tweeted Ohanian, who later told Fortune that he was very serious about the offer.
Klondike discontinues Choco Taco
While Klondike has plans to bring the treat back to stores in the future, the product is discontinued at the moment. Klondike even clarified in a tweet that the announcement that it would discontinue Choco Tacos was not a publicity stunt.
I want to address the rumors: I’m really being discontinued, it’s not a PR stunt. I knew you loved me, but not THIS much. While I reflect on this outpouring of support, we are discussing next steps, including what to do with the last 912 (we counted) tacos at HQ. Stay tuned… pic.twitter.com/7tswyPVb5c
— Klondike (@Klondikebar) July 28, 2022
Both 1ct and 4ct packs of Klondike’s Choco Taco officially left store freezers last month. The brand also updated the product’s webpage to explain why it stopped producing the treat.
“Over the past two years, we have experienced an unprecedented spike in demand across our portfolio and have had to make very tough decisions to ensure availability of our full portfolio nationwide. A necessary but unfortunate part of this process is that we sometimes must discontinue products, even a beloved item like Choco Taco,” read a portion of the product’s webpage. “We know this may be very disappointing. We hope you’ll try our other delicious frozen treats, including Klondike Cones, Shakes, Sandwiches, and of course, our signature Bar available nationwide.”
What is a Choco Taco?
Klondike’s Choco Taco is a frozen treat featuring a taco-shaped waffle cone filled with vanilla ice cream and is partially covered with milk chocolate and topped with peanuts.
Choco Taco was invented some 40 years ago by Alan Drazen, who worked for Jack & Jill Ice Cream Co. in 1983. According to Fortune, Drazen pitched the idea to his boss during a slow period and was the concept was instantly approved.
Though a marketing firm was recruited to name the product, it was Drazen who came up with the name. After becoming a hit on ice cream trucks, Choco Taco got a distribution deal with Taco Bell and eventually started to become more widely available across the country following Unilever’s acquisition of the product.
Ice cream in a taco shell was a game changer at the time of Choco Taco’s inception. “When you eat a sugar cone, you generally eat the nuts, chocolate, and ice cream on the top,” Drazen told Eater in 2016. “With the Choco Taco you’re getting the ice cream, cone, nuts, and chocolate with just about every bite.”
Who sells Choco Taco?
Aside from Klondike, several other companies sell their own version of Choco Taco. And since news broke that Klondike’s Choco Taco was discontinued, more companies have announced their own take on the treat.
For instance, ice creamery Salt & Straw said it would sell its own version of the treat on National Taco Day later this October. “We realize how exciting this product is for ice cream fans,” Salt & Straw co-founder Tyler Malek said in a press release. “It captured a certain zeitgeist that has such relevance for so many, and we want to ensure it doesn’t go away. Our limited edition is handmade, and captures the level of intent and thoughtfulness that we put in all our ice cream. We can’t wait to share it again.”