Cocoa-free brand WNWN Food Labs creates ‘lookalike’ bars similar to classic favourites from Cadbury and others

Alternative chocolate company WNWN Foods has created a trio of vegan chocolate bars that look surprisingly similar to favourites from some classic high street brands but are entirely free from cocoa.

Confectionery company WNWN has created three dairy-free bars which could be designed to appeal to fans of Cadbury, Tony’s Chocolonely and Terry’s.

WNWN’s new vegan lookalikes come in three variants: Choc Nut, Choc Orange, and Vegan M*lk Choc, which are available from the company’s website from this week, and retail for £5 per 48g block.

While chocolate aficionados may be most interested in the taste of the product, other consumers may be more taken by something more superficial – the appearance of the treats.

This is because the bars’ packaging could be said to be heavily ‘inspired’ by the wrapping covering their dairy-based counterparts.

WNWN Foods

According to WNWN Foods, it crafted its cocoa-free vegan chocolate bars using ‘cutting edge science’, and incorporating ingredients including vegetable fat, carob, oats and barley.

After crafting the high-tech bars, the tongue-in-cheek brand then wrapped the palm-oil free treats in a compostable wrapper, protected by a cardboard sleeve.

According to the Grocer, WNWN CEO Ahrum Pak said: “We’ve reimagined classic chocolate bars by giving them an ethical, sustainable, and cocoa-free twist.

“While they have a far smaller environmental impact, and they don’t rely on unfair labour practices like the originals they were inspired by, they are every bit as delicious.”

Ethical chocolate

The London-based company, which saw former banker and management consultant Ahrum Pak partner with fermentation technology Dr Johnny Drain, has raised some £4.5million so far in its journey to bring its products to retailers.

Despite the novelty of cocoa-free chocolate, Dr Drain told The Grocer the the lookalike bars are not a publicity stunt.

He added that the launch is a ‘serious’ one, despite the products being available in limited quantities.

The bars, he added, will showcase the controversial practices that are involved in creating many popular chocolate treats – namely ‘slave labour, child labour and deforestation’.

Dr Drain says that in time, the brand would like to create chocolate bars at a price which is similar to conventional options, but are free-from these ethical dilemmas.

The Grocer reports that at the time of publishing its report, neither Cadbury nor Terry’s had responded to comment.

However, it said a rep for Chocolonely said: “Tony’s Chocolonely exists to make cocoa 100 percent  exploitation-free.”

Fancy something sweet? You’ll love these stunning vegan desserts. 

Photo © WNWN Food Labs