Opal Fruits, the retro sweet treat discontinued in 1998, have been spotted back on supermarket shelves at Poundland, Home Bargains and B&M, priced at £1, 99p and 95p respectively. The return has sparked a wave of nostalgia among shoppers.
Social media reaction
Over on Facebook, the Forth Valley Food Guy posted a snap of his find, writing: 'Thought I was seeing things, when did this happen?' 'Britain is healing,' joked Dncan Mkenzee in the comments, while Stuart Combe, quoting the brand's iconic 70s ad slogan, added: 'Made to make your mouth water.'
History of Opal Fruits
Opal Fruits debuted in 1960 and were rebranded as Starburst in 1998, with flavour changes including the combination of lemon and lime into one and the addition of blackcurrant. Mars Wrigley revived the original version for a limited period in 2020, with another batch hitting Tesco stores last summer. The last time they returned, Florence McGivern, Skittles' senior brand manager, commented: 'The nostalgia trend continues to resonate strongly with consumers, and we are giving them the chance to reconnect with memories from that time.'
Fan memories
On Reddit, @Defiant-Yellow-2375 said Opal Fruits had a 'genuinely poetic name for a sweet,' while @Glittery_Sky4612 'loved them.' Another, @BECKYISHERE, claimed they're 'much better than Starburst,' a sentiment echoed by @Mockingjay1013, who wrote: 'Starburst just aren't the same.' There's been similar love for Opal Fruit ice lollies, hailed by @cmwagstaf1 as 'absolutely elite,' with a 'lovely sorbet coating.'
Other comebacks
Opal Fruits are not the only treat to return recently. White Chocolate Maltesers, first launched in 2003 and discontinued in 2014, were resurrected by Mars Wrigley in June last year after fan demands. Milky Way Crispy Rolls, axed in 2022, also made a comeback after an online petition reached 9,000 signatures, with Mars admitting it had 'made a mistake' getting rid of them. The brand also added two new Crispy Roll flavours: Twix Crispy Rolls and Bounty Crispy Rolls.
Name changes in confectionery
Opal Fruits aren't the only confectionery to have undergone a name change. The Marathon bar was renamed Snickers in 1990, 22 years after it first launched in the UK. Last year, the original Marathon name was revived on a limited basis. On Reddit, @Dansredditname reckoned they tasted better when called Marathon, while @-ricci- claimed they 'used to have a chewy caramel layer which has been replaced by a vaguely gooey mush.'
