Uploaded August 2022 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
In July 2022, Unilever announced that they were discontinuing the Choco Taco after 40 years. So how did we go from the Choco Taco being one of the fastest selling ice cream novelties in the industry to being discontinued?
Sources
“Mexico Moves In,” Marie Bianco, Newsday, Jun 22, 1983
“Mexican Food’s Appeal Grows,” Calgary Herald, Jul 21, 1983
“New Foods,” The Pensacola News, May 8, 1984
“Food: Are You Ready for Ice Cream Tacos,” Clark DeLeon, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Apr 2, 1984
“Here, There & Everywhere,” Renee V. Lucas, Philadelphia Daily News, Jun 15, 1984
“For Vendors on Ice-Cream Trucks, Sales Turn Soft During a Heat Wave,” Terry Bivens, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Jun 18, 1984
“Pass The Tacos, Dolly,” Citizens’ Voice, Jul 17, 1984
Dairy Record, July 1984
“Choco Taco Hits Supermarkets,” Dairy Record, Apr 1985
“Jack and Jill Went Up a Hill: Choco Taco’s Amazing Success Story,” Bill Mandel, The San Francisco Examiner, Aug 30, 1985
“Designer Desserts,” Laurie Itow, The San Francisco Examiner, Mar 2, 1986
“Designer Ice Cream,” Scripps Howard Newspapers, The Herald-News, Apr 2, 1986
“The Ice Cream Man and Tales of Summer,” Howard Manly, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Sep 1, 1986
“Hundreds Gather to Enjoy Del Taco Restaurant Opening,” Oneida Sumsion, The Daily Herald, Aug 18, 1988
“The Cold Truth: Variety is the Ice of Life,” Mike Dunn, The Sacramento Bee, Aug 4, 1985
“Ice Cream Firms Go Upscale to Capture the Adult Market,” Marie Bianco, Newsday, Jul 1, 1987
“Frosted Daze,” Mary Dolan, The Herald Statesman, Jul 18, 1990
“The Ice Cream Man’s Job is Never Done,” Maria Gallagher, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Sep 11, 1996
Restaurant Business, 1998
“Psssst! Yo Quiero Bell’s Choco Taco,” Ken Hoffman, The Gazette, Feb 27, 1998
“The Legend of the Choco Taco,” Jason Cohen, Eater, Aug 26, 2016
“The Choco Taco: Investigating the Mystery Behind a Classic American Treat,” All Things Considered, NPR, Sep 7, 2016
“It’s Official: The Choco Taco is Over,” Bettina Makalintal, Eater, Jul 26, 2022
“Unilever Discontinues Choco Taco,” Megan Poinski, Food Dive, Jul 26, 2022
“Choco Tacos are Gone for Good, a Victim of ‘Tough Decision,’” Emily Heil, The Washington Post, Jul 26, 2022
“Klondike is Giving Up on the Choco Taco,” Mike Pomranz, Food & Wine, Jul 26, 2022
“The Choco Taco Might Not Be Discontinued After All,” Chris Morris, Fortune, Jul 29, 2022
In July 2022, Unilever announced that they were discontinuing the Choco Taco after 40 years. So how did we go from the Choco Taco being one of the fastest selling ice cream novelties in the industry to being discontinued?
Sources
“Mexico Moves In,” Marie Bianco, Newsday, Jun 22, 1983
“Mexican Food’s Appeal Grows,” Calgary Herald, Jul 21, 1983
“New Foods,” The Pensacola News, May 8, 1984
“Food: Are You Ready for Ice Cream Tacos,” Clark DeLeon, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Apr 2, 1984
“Here, There & Everywhere,” Renee V. Lucas, Philadelphia Daily News, Jun 15, 1984
“For Vendors on Ice-Cream Trucks, Sales Turn Soft During a Heat Wave,” Terry Bivens, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Jun 18, 1984
“Pass The Tacos, Dolly,” Citizens’ Voice, Jul 17, 1984
Dairy Record, July 1984
“Choco Taco Hits Supermarkets,” Dairy Record, Apr 1985
“Jack and Jill Went Up a Hill: Choco Taco’s Amazing Success Story,” Bill Mandel, The San Francisco Examiner, Aug 30, 1985
“Designer Desserts,” Laurie Itow, The San Francisco Examiner, Mar 2, 1986
“Designer Ice Cream,” Scripps Howard Newspapers, The Herald-News, Apr 2, 1986
“The Ice Cream Man and Tales of Summer,” Howard Manly, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Sep 1, 1986
“Hundreds Gather to Enjoy Del Taco Restaurant Opening,” Oneida Sumsion, The Daily Herald, Aug 18, 1988
“The Cold Truth: Variety is the Ice of Life,” Mike Dunn, The Sacramento Bee, Aug 4, 1985
“Ice Cream Firms Go Upscale to Capture the Adult Market,” Marie Bianco, Newsday, Jul 1, 1987
“Frosted Daze,” Mary Dolan, The Herald Statesman, Jul 18, 1990
“The Ice Cream Man’s Job is Never Done,” Maria Gallagher, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Sep 11, 1996
Restaurant Business, 1998
“Psssst! Yo Quiero Bell’s Choco Taco,” Ken Hoffman, The Gazette, Feb 27, 1998
“The Legend of the Choco Taco,” Jason Cohen, Eater, Aug 26, 2016
“The Choco Taco: Investigating the Mystery Behind a Classic American Treat,” All Things Considered, NPR, Sep 7, 2016
“It’s Official: The Choco Taco is Over,” Bettina Makalintal, Eater, Jul 26, 2022
“Unilever Discontinues Choco Taco,” Megan Poinski, Food Dive, Jul 26, 2022
“Choco Tacos are Gone for Good, a Victim of ‘Tough Decision,’” Emily Heil, The Washington Post, Jul 26, 2022
“Klondike is Giving Up on the Choco Taco,” Mike Pomranz, Food & Wine, Jul 26, 2022
“The Choco Taco Might Not Be Discontinued After All,” Chris Morris, Fortune, Jul 29, 2022
