Story By:  Ana Marjanovic, Sub-Editor: Michael Leidig, Agency:  Newsflash

The iconic triangular chocolate bars made by Toblerone will soon no longer be produced exclusively in Switzerland.

The bar’s choccy peaks are said to be a tribute to the Swiss Alps close to the country’s capital Bern, where it has been made for more than 100 years.

But now the brand’s American owner is set to relocate some of the manufacturing nearly 600 miles away to the Slovakian capital Bratislava.

The triangular chocolate – familiar to millions who use airport duty-free shops – has been produced in the Swiss city of Bern for more than a century.

But American confectionery manufacturer Mondelez, which owns Toblerone, has announced a move to Slovakia at the end of 2023, apparently to cut costs.

The chocolate bar will reportedly no longer be able to bear the words “Swiss milk chocolate” on its packaging, even if the bulk of manufacturing remains in Switzerland.

This is because all steps in the manufacturing process must take place in Switzerland for it to be able to have the label.

Employees reportedly feared that the outsourcing of part of the production to Slovakia is just the beginning, with production costs and wages being much lower in Slovakia than they are in Switzerland.

In 2008, when Toblerone celebrated its 100 anniversary, it describes itself as “a real piece of traditional Swiss chocolate”.

But this is now apparently set to change.

The Bern factory will remain in place, with Toblerone reportedly saying: “Bern is an important part of our history and will be so in the future.”

The Toblerone chocolate bar was invented in 1908 by chocolatiers Theodor Tobler and Emil Baumann.

It’s signature triangular shape has been legally protected since 1909.