The contents of a lunchbox said a lot about a kid. Swapping snacks was practically a social currency. Modern lunchbox staples tend to be lower in sugar, free from artificial colours, and a world away from the brightly packaged, sugar-loaded treats that defined childhoods.
Classic Cakes and Biscuits
The Fabulous Bakin' Boys Choccy Cupcakes were individually wrapped sponge cakes topped with milk chocolate. The brand launched in 1997, growing out of BakeHouse Cakes in Witney, Oxfordshire. Production ended in 2017 when the factory closed.
Cartoonies were bite-sized round biscuits with a molten milk chocolate centre and animal faces. Made by Burton's Biscuits, they first appeared in the mid-80s as Cartoon Buttons with Disney characters, then rebranded. They disappeared after Burton's was bought out in 2013.
Mars Delight, launched in 2004, had layers of wafer, caramel cream and cocoa cream under milk chocolate. It was pulled from shelves in 2008 reportedly due to poor sales.
Crisps and Savoury Snacks
Tudor Crisps, made by Tudor Food Products in Sunderland from 1947, offered flavours like Pickled Onion, Beef Barbecue and Hot Dog and Ketchup. After acquisition by Smiths and then PepsiCo, Tudor was discontinued in 2003.
Smoky Bacon and Pizza flavours of Cheestrings were introduced alongside the original in 1996. According to the Irish Times, they were quietly discontinued in 2007.
Walkers BBQ Rib crisps, with a distinctive black packet, were introduced in the 00s and phased out in the 2010s. They briefly returned as a limited edition in December 2023, and a vegan BBQ Pork Ribs flavour appeared in 2024.
Drinks and Other Treats
Um Bongo, launched in 1983 by Nestlé under Libby's, was a tropical fruit drink with a catchy advert. The original recipe had 10 fruits, but early 2000s reformulation reduced it to three. It drifted in and out of availability and can still be found at Iceland, Home Bargains and Costco.
Kwenchy Kups by Calypso were 185ml fruit-flavoured juice drinks in small plastic pots with foil lids and a plastic straw. Available in cola, raspberry, blackcurrant and orange, they were a fixture in the 90s and 00s before vanishing.
Biscuits and Crackers
McVitie's Taxi Bars had layers of wafer, caramel and chocolate cream in an orange, yellow and blue wrapper. Originally launched in the 80s, they became a multipack staple but were discontinued in 2015.
Jacob's Oddities arrived in 2011, shaped like bones, fish and spaceships in cheese, salt and vinegar, and ready salted flavours. They were discontinued in 2017 by parent company Pladis.
Fox's Echo Bars, launched in 2000, combined a crunchy biscuit base with aerated white chocolate and milk chocolate coating. They disappeared from shops in 2008.
