Doug Drinkwater, driving home to Cromwell, stopped in Fairlie to fuel both his vehicle and himself.
"Like I’ve done for the past 30 years, just to make sure I stay awake and had a bit of a sugar hit, I got a cola and a peanut slab, that’s my go-to."
Driving away he was initially puzzled as to why the Whittaker’s packaging was harder to open than usual and was further confused when he finally got into it.
"I just couldn’t work out what was going on because it was just a gold plastic peanut slab, exactly the same size. I thought ‘am I going to get a refund?’."
However, he was delighted to find he had bought a winning gold peanut slab, part of a competition to celebrate 75 years of the confection.
Whittaker’s celebrated the anniversary of its iconic product this year by hiding two gold slabs in stores nationwide from June 30 to August 31.
Those who found the slabs each won a unique Whittaker’s VIP experience, including a trip to Wellington and an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Whittaker’s factory in Porirua.
Mr Drinkwater and his wife Tammy had enjoyed their tour of the factory and luxurious hotel when he spoke to CO News on Monday.
"It's been fantastic. They've really, really turned it on and the hotel room when we walked in the whole thing was made up as a Whittaker's theme.
"They had the pictures of the founders up ... and there was just chocolate everywhere — and I mean everywhere.
"They gave us two cabin bags as well to take it home and that's how much there was."
The factory tour was interesting with more Whittaker’s products manufactured than he realised.
However, Mr Drinkwater would remain faithful to his favourite peanut slab.
"The quality's never changed, you know, it's been the same every time I've got a peanut slab, it's been the same all that time.
"It's never shrunk, it's always been exactly the same."
Following a spa experience and another night in the QT Hotel, the Drinkwaters arrived home on Tuesday morning.
■ Whittaker’s have released a new "chocolate pods" collection which includes new flavours as well as the original hazelnut gianduja.
Look out for a giveaway for CO News readers, a pouch of the new flavour options and a box of the original pods will be distributed early next month, thanks to Whittaker’s.
