Cadbury Astros, the retro candy-coated chocolates that were officially discontinued in the UK in 2008, have been spotted back on the shelves of variety store B&M, sparking excitement among nostalgic shoppers.
First launched in the 1990s, Astros quickly became a fan-favourite among chocoholics in the UK. Slightly similar to an M&M or Smartie, Astros are bite-sized, colourful candy-coated chocolates featuring a crunchy biscuit centre and a smooth milk chocolate layer.
Astros were initially released in South Africa in 1995, where they remain a popular staple. But these days, they're notoriously hard to find in the UK. Your best bet is either to import them or get lucky hunting down a packet or two at a retro sweet shop or through a South African retailer online.
Shoppers react to Astros' return
Which shop you choose will also influence how much you pay. At SA Groceries, you can buy a 40g box for £2.25. However, Hardyz Grocery Store lists the same sized box for just £1.65. But with hefty postage fees and a delivery slot to wait for, Brits were understandably excited at the prospect of popping to their local shop to get a taste of their childhood.
Always first to spot a new product on store shelves, UKnewestfoods received a flurry of comments on its recent post about Astros' return. @Kathpickard exclaimed 'All my faith in childhood has been restored!' while @shnicky4ever added: 'I literally mentioned these a couple of hours ago when I was talking about sweets I miss!'
Some users, occupied with other things, tagged friends and family members instructing them to head to the shops 'immediately!' @CherylThompson tagged her husband underneath one video, writing: 'These were my favourite ever – I'm sending you to B&M.'
Not the first time at B&M
On Facebook, some users have claimed Astros are a bit like 'crispy M&Ms but better', while @jrtyu has also made the rather bold statement that they are 'much better than Smarties'. As a die-hard Smarties girl, I find this hard to believe.
This isn't the first time Astros has landed on B&M shelves. Back in July 2022, shoppers spotted the chocolate on sale for just £1 a box. So, with online retailers charging a pretty penny for the chocolate, it might be worth rushing to the shops to stock up on this iconic treat before it disappears from shelves once more.
One word of warning, some users have shared that they weren't able to find Astros in their local B&M. Two users based in Scotland, for example, went home empty-handed. Will you be one of the chosen ones?
