Norwich folk recall smell of axed Caramac bars being made

Nestle has announced this week that the familiar red and gold packaging will be disappearing from shop shelves soon.

People who grew up in Norwich often remember the sweet smell that filled the city air (Image: Archant)

The Norwich factory that first made them was on the land where Chantry Place shopping centre now stands, in Chapel Field Road. 

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Having first opened as Fleur-de Lys Works, it produced soft drinks and began producing chocolate in 1886 to keep workers in jobs during the winter.  

The popular bar was first made in the city factory (Image: PA)

The factory employed some 700 people when it became Mackintosh (Image: Archant)

The Caramac bar, made from ingredients including treacle and sweetened condensed skimmed milk, was launched in 1959 by Mackintosh and was discontinued in late 1995.  

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However, the Caramac made a comeback to the Norwich production line in February 1996 after a two-month break that left fans fearing it had disappeared forever.  

The factory was demolished in 2004 and became Intu Chapelfield, now known as Chantry Place (Image: Archant)

They once again began making the Caramac mix ready for it to be shipped to Newcastle to new premises towards the end of that year.  

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But now the end is nigh once more.

A Nestle spokesman said: “We are very sorry to disappoint fans of Caramac. There has been a steady decline in its sales over the past few years and unfortunately, we had to make the difficult decision to discontinue it. 

Many of the popular confectionary still enjoyed today was first unveiled at Norwich's Mackintosh factory (Image: Archant)

“We know fans will be disappointed to see it go, but this change will enable us to focus on our best-performing brands, as well as develop exciting new innovations to delight consumers’ tastebuds.” 

'The smell was lovely'

Caramac bars still evoke happy memories of the city's chocolate factories from between the 1950s and 1990s.

Tony Magee (Image: Newsquest)

Tony Magee, 72, who lives in Earlham, said: “There was always the smell of chocolate surrounding the whole city from the Rowntree factory.”

Diana Buckingham (Image: Newsquest)

Diana Buckingham, 88, from Sprowston, said: “I remember Caramac because I actually worked at Caley’s Chocolate factory. 

"I started there in 1950 and left in 1959 and I still keep in touch with all my friends that I met while I was working there all those years ago.

"The smell of it I can remember even now, we loved it!”

Alexandra Denman (Image: Newsquest)

Alexandra Denman, 71, from Cringleford, said: “I used to absolutely love Caramac! I thought they were really sweet.

"I have to say though, I then grew out of them and thought they were a bit gross and disgusting! But when I was younger, I used to buy them as a treat for myself.”

Alexander Pond (Image: Newsquest)

Local market stall owner, Alexander Pond, 58, who lives in Ketts Hill, said: “The smell was lovely. All the chocolate smells used to mix together and we used to get it down here.”

• Additional reporting by Alex Adams