Nestlé has lost control of trials of its new self-heating, ready-to-drink can of Nescafé Original as supermarkets nationwide snap up supplies. The trials of Nestlé's new Hot when you Want' coffee were originally intended to be limited to retail outlets in the Midlands until 2002. But the product was also made available to 11 control stores among the multiples nationwide, leading to misunderstandings in the distribution chain. A Nescafé spokesman said: "When supermarkets spotted the product on the order list they snapped it up, and some orders slipped through the net. "Nestlé is not happy and is trying to get the stock back." One store which managed to get hold of supplies was a Safeway/BP petrol forecourt in Goring-by-Sea, Worthing. The management refused to hand back the stock. White with sugar and white without sugar options have been chosen for the trials at an rsp of £1.19 a can. Further variants are being planned after the test period. A button on the base of the standard sized 330ml cans activates a quick-lime and water reaction in the inner membrane, heating the 210ml of coffee inside. {{NEWS }}

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