THE consumer story of the week for people with a sweet tooth is that the humble Smartie, the chocolate bean which has been part of the fabric of British life for almost seven decades, is to come in a chocolate-free version for the first time.

Purists need not worry, though traditional Smarties in their trademark tube with an educational letter of the alphabet on the inside of the plastic cap will still be readily available, as will the newer Smarties chocolate bars.

However, in late spring or early summer, manufacturer Nestle will be introducing a non-chocolate, fruit-flavoured version.

Nestle hopes that its innovation will take hold, boosting consumption figures which the firm says already stand at 16,000 Smarties per minute in the UK.

Britain's Smartie Central is the Nestle plant in York, but they are also manufactured in countries as distant as Canada and South Africa.

Nestle spokeswoman Heleana Greeves said: "Smarties were launched as Chocolate Beans in 1937, following a successful test marketing exercise in Scotland.

"Initially priced at 2d, the equivalent of less than half a penny today, they were renamed Smarties and packed in the famous tube a year later.

"Smarties were inspired by the traditional French confectionery item, drages, which are provided by godmothers for guests at christenings, and which originally had an almond in the centre."

In 2001, Smarties was the UK's best selling children's confectionery brand, with sales of £56m.

Fruit flavours are the latest innovation for the brand in the competitive confectionery market. Others have included Smarties in a can, giant Smarties, Smarties Mini-Eggs and mystery flavours.

DID YOU KNOW?

Smarties originally came in eight colours - red, yellow, orange, green, mauve, pink, light brown and brown. The light brown ones were replaced by blue ones after a promotion in 1989.

Before 1958 the dark brown Smartie had a plain chocolate centre and the light brown one tasted of coffee. These days, the only Smarties which taste different to the other ones are the orange variety, which are filled with orange chocolate.

Smarties are not the only chocolate product to stay the course. Aero, also produced by Nestle, first appeared in 1935.

Different sweets are made to cater for the tastes of different countries, and some sweets manufactured for overseas markets never see the light of day here.

The Terry's Chocolate Orange is a favourite of millions, for example, and some may also remember a Terry's Chocolate Lemon being available some years ago. But Americans can sample the exotic delights of a gigantic Terry's Chocolate Raspberry any time they care to visit their local store.

Some products become casualties of competition or fashion the litany of the gone-but-not-forgotten includes the Texan Bar, Space Dust and Ice Breaker.