Dropping like squashed flies! Where have all the Garibaldis gone?
British biscuit fans have raised the alarm over the growing scarcity of Garibaldis, the currant-filled biscuit nicknamed "squashed fly biscuits", with many complaining on social media that shops have stopped stocking them. Investigations by the Mail on Sunday confirmed patchy availability across major supermarkets, though the exact cause of the apparent shortage has not been established.
Tesco's own-brand Garibaldis and its budget Jack's range are both showing as out of stock, while Waitrose Essential and M&S versions are unavailable anywhere according to comparison site Trolley, with M&S's no longer listed on its website at all. Sainsbury's and Morrisons remain the only chains still selling the biscuit, priced at £1.55 and £1.50 respectively. Created in 1861 by Peek Freans and named after Italian unifier Giuseppe Garibaldi, the biscuit has also drawn complaints that its recipe may have changed. The British Retail Consortium said it knew of no supply issues, Morrisons reported none, several retailers did not respond, and manufacturer Pladis said stocking decisions are down to individual supermarkets.
- Garibaldi biscuits are vanishing from many UK supermarket shelves
- Only Sainsbury's and Morrisons currently confirmed to stock them
- Cause unclear; retailers and industry body report no known supply problems
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Homemade or shop-bought, the Garibaldi is one of Britain's oldest surviving biscuits: a thin, oblong wafer studded with squashed currants, which gave it the affectionate nickname "squashed fly biscuit". It was created in 1861 by the firm Peek Freans and named after Giuseppe Garibaldi, the Italian military leader who helped unify Italy and visited Britain that same year.
The biscuit has recently become harder to find on supermarket shelves, prompting complaints from fans on social media and closer scrutiny of stock levels at major chains including Tesco, Waitrose, M&S, Sainsbury's and Morrisons. It is not yet clear whether this reflects a genuine supply problem, changing retailer decisions about what to stock, or simply shifting consumer habits.
The story matters to anyone with a fondness for traditional British biscuits and an interest in how supermarkets decide what stays on the shelves. Industry bodies and the biscuit's manufacturer, Pladis, have so far given limited or no explanation, leaving the reasons behind its apparent disappearance unresolved.