Victory for The Sun as M&S rethinks hated vegetarian Percy Pigs recipe
One hundred Percy Pigs 'mega fans' will be recruited to discuss the issue
MARKS & Spencer is to get 100 Percy Pigs fans to decide whether to bring back the original recipe.
The Sun’s revelation yesterday that M&S had sneakily turned the sweets vegetarian by removing gelatine prompted a huge reaction on social media.
Analysis of the tens of thousands of posts on Facebook and Twitter showed the nation was split — with 44 per cent in favour, 35 per cent against and 20 per cent on the fence.
The Sun interviews Percy Pig
Why did you change, Percy?
Well, I’m a popular pig already but we wanted even more people to be able to have their fill of Percy so earlier this year I went gelatine free.
Did you think this was going to cause such a big fuss?
Turns out it’s quite a pig deal! It’s split the nation’s opinion – we’ve had a big trotters up from some people but not everyone agrees...
What did you think of Piers’s comments?
Piers really got his tail in a spin, but he didn’t need to spit it out! Given he’s such a big fan of the classic Percy, rather than s-whining, perhaps he’d like to join our Percy Pig panel.
Are you enjoying being in the spotlight?
To be honest I’ve got used to the fame over the last 27 years. I’ve got some big celeb fans like Amanda Holden, Andy Murray, Calvin Harris and Lewis Hamilton, gate crashed the arrival of Prince George and have been on Britain’s Got Talent. Some of my mega fans have even got Percy tattoos, it’s always a bit awkward when you meet them...
What are you going to do now?
Some customers aren’t happy...It’s all about the fans! We’re recruiting 100 of my super fans to form a Percy Pig panel and vote on whether M&S should introduce a special pack of classic Percy pigs with the gelatine back in.
Can anyone join the panel?
Yes - fans should trot over to the M&S Facebook page to pitch for their place on the panel. They’ll need to share why they love Percy. I can’t wait to see their reasons... although I don’t want to get a pig head!
How are your wife and piglets?
Penny and our piglets have been veggie for a few years now so are totally on board. As a family we’ve been hogging the limelight at M&S for some time, but we didn’t predict this would be quite a pig deal.
Removing animal product gelatine has made them veggie-friendly — but many fans say the best-selling sweets now taste like washing up liquid.
M&S will today announce a panel of 100 Percy fans will meet on May 16 to discuss and vote on the sweet’s future.
The main option is to bring back packs of the original recipe and sell them alongside the new veggie-friendly option.
An M&S spokesman said: “The Sun’s front page got the nation’s Percy fans debating and we want to hear what they have to say.
“So we’re recruiting a panel of 100 Percy mega fans to come to Percy HQ to decide on whether we should bring in a special edition - classic Percy pack with the gelatine in.”
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