The simple pleasure of unwrapping a bag of Tooty Frooties after school or enjoying a Calippo Shot from the ice cream van during summer holidays can instantly transport you back to childhood. These iconic treats evoke powerful memories of simpler times. However, a significant portion of the confectionery that sparks such nostalgia has vanished from supermarket shelves, leaving sweet-toothed Britons feeling a profound sense of loss.
The Campaign to Bring Back Beloved Treats
This disappearance has prompted thousands of disappointed customers to take to social media platforms like TikTok, demanding the return of their favourite sweets. Some have even initiated more formal campaigns. A petition to resurrect Mars' Delight Bars, which were withdrawn in 2008, gathered over 1,000 signatures in 2020. In 2022, Parliament was compelled to respond to public calls to reinstate the famous Calippo Shots, axed in 2020, though the petition was ultimately rejected for failing to meet official standards.
The controversial decision by Nestle to remove the legendary Tooty Frooties in 2019 ignited a national debate, with television presenter Ben Shephard joining the outcry. Despite these fervent efforts, manufacturers often cite persistently low sales as the reason for discontinuing such items, leaving shoppers to hunt for suitable alternatives. Here, we explore the best-discontinued UK snacks and reveal where you can find delicious dupes to recapture that childhood magic.
1. Tooty Frooties
Alternative: B&M's Fruit Blast
These colourful, chewy sweets were adored by Britons for nearly six decades before Nestle announced their discontinuation in 2019. The company explained that newer generations now prefer 'jelly and foamy' sweets. Fans were devastated, with some vowing to stockpile remaining supplies. Fortunately, B&M's Fruit Blasts are widely reported to offer an incredibly similar taste. Social media users have praised them, with one stating they 'taste exactly the same.' A 150g bag costs £1 on B&M's website.
2. Calippo Shots
Alternative: Aldi's Gianni's Ice Coolers
An essential summer treat, Calippo Shots were tiny balls of flavoured ice in a shaker-style container, available in strawberry, lemon-lime, and green varieties. Discontinued in 2020, their absence led to a rejected parliamentary petition in 2022. For a similar experience, Aldi's Gianni's Ice Coolers provide a tasty and affordable alternative at £1.59 for a six-pack. Alternatively, creating crushed ice with flavoured syrup at home offers a cheap DIY option.
3. Rowntree's Bursting Bugs
Alternative: Sainsbury's Bugs & Beetles
These gummy insect-shaped sweets with a gooey centre, launched in 2000, were a hit with '90s children but discontinued in 2003 due to low sales. Sainsbury's Bugs & Beetles are now hailed as a fitting dupe. Described as 'juicy and oozy fruit flavour gums,' they cost just 75p per bag and have been endorsed by nostalgic shoppers in online food groups.
4. Mars Delight
Alternative: Cadbury's Twirl Crispy Caramel Choc Top
Combining milk chocolate, caramel, and a crispy wafer, Mars Delight became immensely popular before its discontinuation in 2008. Despite a petition and Mars stating the bar was under 'marketing review' in 2016, it remains absent. Research indicates it was the UK's most-missed discontinued sweet in 2022. Cadbury's Twirl Crispy Caramel Choc Top, often found in B&M for £2.49 per nine-pack, is noted by eagle-eyed shoppers as a remarkably similar alternative.
5. Cadbury Snaps
Alternative: Aldi's Choceur Waves
Launched in 2004, these thin, crisp chocolate-covered snaps in various flavours were discontinued in 2010. Cadbury confirmed on social media they would not return. Aldi's Choceur Waves, available in milk chocolate, salted caramel, and orange flavours at £1.75 per box, provide a perfect dupe with their crispy rice puffs reminiscent of the original.
6. SwissKit Crunch
Alternative: M&S Outrageously Chocolatey Milk Chocolate Wafers
Adored in the 1970s with its iconic 'I'll risk it for a SwissKit' slogan, this muesli chocolate bar vanished in the 1980s. M&S's Outrageously Chocolatey Milk Chocolate Wafers, retailing at £3, offer a similar chocolate-to-wafer ratio, pairing light, crunchy wafers with smooth milk chocolate.
7. Corona Pop
Alternative: Fentimans' Soft Drink Beverages
This Welsh-based soft drink, once rivalling Coca-Cola and Pepsi, offered door-to-door delivery in the 1970s with flavours like Orangeade and Cherryade. Discontinued in the late 1990s as shopping habits changed, Fentimans' premium drinks strongly mimic Corona's traditional taste, with options like Dandelion & Burdock and Cream Soda evoking strong nostalgia.
8. Nestle's Animal Bar
Alternative: Nestle's Jungly Chocolate
First launched in 1963 with animal moulds and a fun wrapper game, the Animal Bar was discontinued in 2023 due to declining sales. Home Bargains now stocks a dupe: Nestle's Jungly Chocolate bars. Described as smooth milk chocolate with crunchy biscuit pieces, they cost £1.49 and offer a nostalgic taste of the childhood favourite.
While the original treats may be gone, these alternatives provide a delicious way to revisit cherished memories, proving that the taste of childhood is never entirely lost.
