:Choco Taco
{{Short description|Ice cream novelty previously made by Good Humor-Breyers}}
{{Infobox food
| name = Choco Taco
| image = 2020-03-26 05 57 52 An unwrapped Choco Taco in the Franklin Farm section of Oak Hill, Fairfax County, Virginia.jpg
| image_size = 280px
| image_alt =
| caption = A Choco Taco, unwrapped
| alternate_name =
| type = Chocolate
| course = Dessert
| country = United States
| region = Pennsylvania
| creator = Alan Drazen
| year = {{start date and age|1983}}
| served = Cold
| main_ingredient = Ice cream, sugar
| variations =
| serving_size = 1 Choco Taco (83 g)
| calories = 250
| protein = 2g
| fat = 12g
| carbohydrate = 34g
| glycemic_index =
| similar_dish =
}}
Choco Taco is a Good Humor-Breyers ice cream novelty resembling a taco. It consisted of a disk of waffle cone material folded to resemble a hard taco shell, reduced-fat vanilla ice cream, artificially flavored fudge, peanuts, and a milk chocolate coating.{{Cite web|url=https://www.eater.com/2016/10/26/13362442/ice-cream-definition-history|title=The Ultimate Ice Cream Glossary, From A to Z|last=Galarza|first=Daniela|date=2016-10-26|website=Eater|access-date=2017-08-18|archive-date=2017-08-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818173316/https://www.eater.com/2016/10/26/13362442/ice-cream-definition-history|url-status=live}} The Choco Taco was marketed under the Klondike brand as "The Original Ice Cream Taco".{{Cite web|last=Cohen|first=Jason|date=2016-08-26|title=The Origins of the Choco Taco|url=https://www.eater.com/2016/8/26/12636162/choco-taco-klondike-ice-cream-chocolate|access-date=2021-06-10|website=Eater|language=en|archive-date=2019-01-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190109110856/https://www.eater.com/2016/8/26/12636162/choco-taco-klondike-ice-cream-chocolate|url-status=live}}
History
= 1983–1999: Introduction and improvement =
The Choco Taco was invented in Philadelphia in 1983 by Alan Drazen, a mobile food vendor manager for the Jack and Jill Ice Cream Company. The product rolled out in 1984 and it became popular among mobile vending trucks and convenience stores.{{Verification failed|date=November 2023|reason=The tidbit about it being rolled out in 1984 is not mentioned.}}{{Cite magazine|date=2005-04-12|title=Tidbits|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1048344,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007022245/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1048344,00.html|archive-date=7 Oct 2011|access-date=2010-04-28|magazine=Time}}{{Verification failed|date=November 2023|reason=The tidbit about it being rolled out in 1984 is not mentioned.}} It made its first appearance in supermarkets nationwide when Good Humor-Breyers, who were manufacturing it in Richmond, Virginia, promoted it in 1996 as "America's coolest taco" at the Supermarket Industry Convention in Chicago.
In 1998, Unilever introduced the Choco Taco to Italy and United Kingdom under the name Winner Taco through its subsidiaries Algida and Walls. In 1999 it was introduced in Sweden through another subsidiary, GB Glace, under the same name.{{cite news | url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3301/is_n10_v99/ai_21265316/pg_4 | title=Key word search: global dairy food trends | year=1998 | work=Dairy Foods | access-date=2007-11-08 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080211220913/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3301/is_n10_v99/ai_21265316/pg_4 | archive-date=2008-02-11 | url-status=dead }}{{cite news | url=http://www.leganerd.com/wp-content/uploads/LEGANERD_028294.jpg | title=Winner print ad | access-date=2011-05-26 | archive-date=2012-03-24 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324143523/http://www.leganerd.com/wp-content/uploads/LEGANERD_028294.jpg | url-status=live }}{{cite news| url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEzODRRPy-I |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211214/XEzODRRPy-I |archive-date=2021-12-14 |url-status=live| title=Winner Taco Ad}}{{cbignore}}
In 1999, the company improved the product, incorporating a shell which stayed crisper, and introduced new packaging.{{cite news| title=Good Humor-Breyers Adds Products | work=Supermarket News | publisher=FindArticles | date =April 1999 | url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb4331/is_199904/ai_n15101893 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080211215004/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb4331/is_199904/ai_n15101893 | archive-date = 2008-02-11 | url-status = dead}} The same year, the company introduced a Klondike Cookies & Cream Choco Taco, containing cookies and cream ice cream and covered with cookie pieces.{{cite web | last = Marotta | first = Lori Anne | title = Good Humor-Breyers Offers an Array of Products | work = Frozen Food Age | publisher = AllBusiness.com | date = 1999-03-01 | url = http://www.allbusiness.com/wholesale-trade/merchant-wholesalers-nondurable/4206763-1.html | access-date = 2007-10-24 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080210160746/http://www.allbusiness.com/wholesale-trade/merchant-wholesalers-nondurable/4206763-1.html | archive-date = 2008-02-10 | url-status = dead }}
Choco Tacos were also sold at some Taco Bell restaurants.{{cite news | last = Doeff | first = Gail | title = Changing channels; as freezer cases fill, frozen dessert makers seek new growth avenues | work = Dairy Foods | publisher = FindArticles | date = March 1996 | url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3301/is_n3_v97/ai_18305040/pg_3 | access-date = 2007-10-24 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080211220918/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3301/is_n3_v97/ai_18305040/pg_3 | archive-date = 2008-02-11 | url-status = dead }}
= 2022: Discontinuation and aftermath =
Klondike discontinued the Choco Taco in July 2022. According to an Associated Press fact check, Klondike discontinued the product due to a sharp increase in demand across its brands and to ensure the availability of the remainder of its products.{{cite web |title=Fake headline distorts reason that Choco Tacos were discontinued |url=https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-choco-taco-discontinued-klondike-276102013685 |website=Associated Press |access-date=29 July 2022 |language=en |date=27 July 2022 |archive-date=30 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220730002534/https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-choco-taco-discontinued-klondike-276102013685 |url-status=live }} However, Klondike tweeted that "we are discussing next steps, including what to do with the last 912 (we counted) tacos at HQ. Stay tuned…" on July 28, 2022,{{cite web |last1=Klondike |title=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… |url=https://twitter.com/Klondikebar/status/1552707749632434181 |website=Twitter |access-date=23 August 2022 |author1-link=Klondike bar |archive-date=23 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220823201801/https://twitter.com/Klondikebar/status/1552707749632434181 |url-status=live }} but have never followed up on this claim.
On July 25, 2022 Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian tweeted at Unilever, offering to buy the rights to the product.{{cite tweet |name=Alexis Ohanian |user=alexisohanian |number=1551651861245075456 |title=Dear @Unilever — I'd like to buy the rights to your Choco Taco and keep it from melting away from future generations' childhoods.}} When asked about this by Fortune, Ohanian confirmed that the offer was "very serious" but did not yet have any news to share.{{cite news |last1=Davis |first1=Wynne |title=The Choco Taco is dead, but it will never be forgotten |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/07/26/1113692240/choco-taco-discontinued-ice-cream |access-date=30 July 2022 |work=NPR |date=July 26, 2022 |archive-date=30 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220730004546/https://www.npr.org/2022/07/26/1113692240/choco-taco-discontinued-ice-cream |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Mui |first1=Christine |title=Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian says he's 'very serious' about his offer to save the Choco Taco |url=https://fortune.com/2022/07/26/reddit-cofounder-alexis-ohanian-offer-buy-choco-taco/ |access-date=27 August 2023 |work=Fortune |date=July 26, 2022 |archive-date=27 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230827225946/https://fortune.com/2022/07/26/reddit-cofounder-alexis-ohanian-offer-buy-choco-taco/ |url-status=live }}