ONE of Terry's traditional brands - Neapolitan chocolates - has been

quietly scrapped with the closure of the York factory.

Parent company Kraft said today it would not have been viable to transfer production from the Bishopthorpe Road complex to a new plant on the continent.

But it insisted the decision was made because of falling sales across the Neapolitan range, and was part of a long-term review of Kraft's products.

"It would have been taken regardless of the circumstances in York," said a spokeswoman.

"The closure of the Terry's plant in York gave a definitive timing to the discontinuation."

But its demise was greeted with sadness and disgust by aficionado Robert Dunkley, who alerted the Evening Press to the decision.

He said: "To me, this is indicative of what happens when a large insensitive corporation with little sense of history takes over what is, in effect, part of our cultural life.

"I'm appalled and saddened. Neapolitans were a part of my upbringing, they were always there. They were a cultural touchstone."

He said he believed sales had fallen because the company had done little to promote them for many years, and they had been neglected.

Other fans of Neapolitans include former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who said during a visit to the Terry's factory in 1977 that they were her favourite chocolate.

The Kraft spokeswoman said the company knew customers felt strongly about Neapolitans, and had enjoyed them for many years.

"We are sorry to have had to make this decision and we are confident that customers will continue to take pleasure in other products from the Terry's range," she said.

The company said it would be launching a new mint version of the chocolate orange.

Updated: 11:03 Tuesday, November 22, 2005