Food

11 discontinued British snacks everyone wants back

David BenjaminNovember 28, 2025

xx discontinued British snacks everyone wants back — If there’s one thing the British can agree on, it’s that we’re very good at producing snacks. Whether it’s top-tier chocolate bars, moreish sweets or crisps that pack a proper crunch, we’ve all got our favourite between-meals treat that we reach for. And yet for every brilliant snack food on the supermarket shelves, there are those we have loved and lost. The ones which, for reasons best known to themselves, the manufacturers have discontinued over the years. Recent casualties include Walkers’ Tomato Snaps – which have crunched their last after being with us since the 1980s – while Cadbury’s Fruitier and Nuttier recently faced the axe too. But which of those sweet and savoury snacks which are no longer with us would you love to see back on the shelves? Read on for some of the most beloved. We hope you’re paying attention, snack makers…(Picture: Rodial/Metro)

1. Spira

Kicking off with one of those simple but brilliant creations, Spira consisted of a generous portion of Cadbury milk chocolate, twisted into a pair of hollowed-out spiral fingers. That was it. No gimmicks, just chocolate in a very nice shape. It first appeared in the north-west in the mid-80s before being rolled out across the rest of the country – but was discontinued in 2005. And we still miss them even today.

2. Caramac

Undated handout photo issued by Nestle UK & Ireland of a Caramac bar, which was discontinued last year to widespread disappointment, but is on sale again from Tuesday in the form of the classic single bar, a three-bar multipack and a sharing bag of buttons, Nestle has said. Issue date: Tuesday July 23, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story CONSUMER Caramac. Photo credit should read: Nestle UK & Ireland/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. — Nestle caused a firestorm of controversy in 2023 when they announced that the ever-popular Caramac was being discontinued due to falling sales – over 60 years after it first hit the shelves. And while Nestle did bring it back for a limited time in July 2024 in response to demand – and they were spotted in branches of Heron Foods earlier this year – that’s not the same as having it back full-time now is it? As one person put it: ‘I miss Caramac so much!! The year they did the KitKat Caramac combo was the best.’ We’re inclined to agree. (Picture: Nestle UK & Ireland/PA Wire)

3. Tab Clear

xx discontinued British snacks everyone wants back — Looking for something to wash down those discontinued chocolate bars? Well you won’t be reaching for a refreshing Tab Clear. Coca-Cola’s contribution to the ‘clear soda’ movement of the 1990s (which also gave us the equally short-lived Crystal Pepsi) arrived here in 1993 – and was gone by 1994. It hasn’t been seen since, although that hasn’t stopped fans of the caffeinated drink from staging campaigns to try and bring it back and launching Facebook groups dedicated to the cause. There’s even an open letter which not only begs them to bring back Tab Clear but also the original Tab, the diet drink discontinued in 2020. (Picture: Molly Darlington/Getty Images)

4. Brannigans Crisps

Brannigans roast beef and mustard crisps — There’s no shortage of crisps on British shelves of course, but none of them are quite like this. The pub crisp choice of many, Brannigans were known for their strong flavours, such asroast beef and mustard, and mature cheddar and onion – not to mention their paper bags. However it all came to an end in 2020, when makers KP pulled the plug, saying in a statement that sales had ‘been in a downward trend’. While alternative products from other makers do exist, fans reckon they’re just not the same.

5. Banjo

Discontinued chocolate bars we wish we could bring back — This chocolate wafer bar was originally introduced to the UK in the 1950s and then again in the 70s, but it’s now nothing but a nostalgic memory. Very similar in appearance to a KitKat, it came in two flavours: peanut and toasted coconut. Sadly, the Banjo bar was discontinued in the mid 80s – and hasn’t been seen since.

6. Salt and vinegar Quavers

Cheesy Quavers might be readily available in every corner shop, but what about their sister flavour? Well salt andvVinegar Quavers – which we have to say were pretty upper echelon in snack terms – were revealed to have been axed in 2023, after a fan messaged Walkers on X to ask why she could no longer find them. Suffice to say, fans were incensed. The crisps even counted Nigella Lawson among their fans – and if they’re good enough for a TV cooking legend then surely they’ve earned themselves a comeback. (Picture: Walkers)

7. Fruit Polos

We might be accustomed to popping a pack of Polo mints in our bag for those times when we need a little breath freshener – but what about the sweet’s fruity equivalent? Fruit Polos, which hit the market in 1954, came in a variety of different flavours including strawberry, blackcurrant, lemon and lime, but silently vanished from shelves in 2023 after Nestle announced they had discontinued both Polo Fruits and Polo Gummies. Leaving mints as pretty much your only option. ‘I will never get over the discontinuation of fruit Polos,’ one person said on X in reaction to the news. They speak for us all. (Picture: Newscast/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

8. Fuse

1996 Cadbury's Fuse advert 0-13 screenshot.png — Who remembers this 90s favourite? Launched in 1996, the popular chocolate was a household staple until it was discontinued in 2006. Made of milk chocolate, nuts, raisins, cereal and fudge pieces, this retro chocolate bar really had it all. Meaning it was a sad day when they vanished from shelves. The closest you can get to a Fuse these days is in miniature form, with a bite-size version showing up in B&M last year. But the actual full-on bar remains unavailable.

9. Mars Delight

Discontinued chocolate bars we wish we could bring back mars delight — Mars Delight was only with us for a short amount of time – being on the shelves from 2004 until 2008 – but they certainly made a big impression on fans of the chocolate bar.
They were lighter and fluffier than the standard Mars bar, with a combination of milk chocolate, caramel and wafer. Petitions have been launched to bring back this old favourite. But we’re still waiting.

10. Trio

xx discontinued British snacks everyone wants back — Here’s one we all remember. Well it may not be so much for the product as the advert, with the cartoon character Suzy singing ‘TRIIIIIOOOOOOO!’ at ear-splitting volume. Although in fairnessthis combination of biscuit, toffee and chocolate was worth shouting about, becoming instantly popular when it hit the shelves in the 1980s. There were even variations on the theme, with chocolate cream and strawberry cream versions appearing over the years – but sadly the Trio itself was discontinued in 2003. The original bars made a brief comeback in 2016 in respond to popular demand, but right now we can’t find them anywhere. Time for another revival, we think.

11. The Fabulous Bakin’ Boys cupcakes

Let’s be honest, if you found one of these in your school lunchbox, that was a good day. The Fabulous Bakin’ Boys products were pretty much everywhere in the 00s and the early part of the 2010, with their chocolate covered cupcakes and other products perfect for a sweet afternoon pick-me-up. Sadly, we haven’t seen these for a while because the company collapsed into administration in 2014, and despite being bought out and rebranded as Fabulous Bakers, the brand closed in 2017. Yet they still have their fans. ‘They were the best, always ate the cake and then had the chocolate disk,’ one person posted on Reddit, while others lamented their demise. (Picture: Alamy Stock Photo)

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