Taste of nostalgia! The sweets out of your childhood that do not exist anymore – and the place to purchase the very best dupes

From savouring a bag of Tooty Frooties after school to Calippo shots from the ice cream van during the summer holidays, the taste of a favourite sweet is enough to transport you straight back to childhood.

Unfortunately, however, much of the confectionery that sparks nostalgia simply doesn’t exist anymore – from Woolworths pic’n’mix to the discontinued Caramac.

It’s prompted sweet-toothed customers to take to TikTok in their thousands to demand the return of their favourites, and some are even trying more direct action.

A petition to bring back Mars’ Delight Bars, withdrawn in 2008, amassed more than 1,000 signatures in 2020.

And in 2022, Parliament was also forced to respond to calls to reinstate the famous Calippo Shots, axed in 2020, however, it was ultimately rejected as it failed to meet the petition standards.

The controversial decision by Nestle to remove the legendary Tooty Frooties from the shelves in 2019 even saw television presenter Ben Shephard contribute to the heated debate, as the nation was left outraged by the loss of the popular sweets. 

Unfortunately these attempts have all failed, leaving shoppers hunting for suitable dupes, despite manufacturers often citing low sales as the reason for axing certain treats.

Read on to reminisce over the best discontinued UK snacks, and discover how to get your hands on tasty alternatives that will take you back to your childhood one bite at a time.

1. Tooty Frooties 

As an alternative: try B&M’s Fruit Blast 

The colourful and chewy sweets were adored by Brits for almost 60 years, but in 2019 Nestle announced that Tooty Frooties were to get the axe. 

Taking to X (formerly Twitter) to make the devastating announcement, Nestle told one unhappy customer: ‘Unfortunately, we’ve had to say goodbye to Tooty Frooties. Our love for them will always be there but, for now, we have to let it go.’

However, Swiss manufacturing giant Nestle justified their decision to axe the sweet by sharing that the latest generation prefers ‘jelly and foamy’ sweets instead.

In response to the damning news, fans of the jaw-chomping treat said they would be forced to ‘stockpile’, while even TV presenter Ben Shephard joined in on the debate and said: ‘What? As if we haven’t got enough to deal with right now!’

Yet there is good news for Tooty Frooty fanatics: B&M’s Fruit Blasts are said to offer a taste incredibly similar to the beloved discontinued sweet.

Taking to Facebook to share the hack, one user said: ‘They taste exactly the same,’ while another pleased shopper added: ‘They are even nicer than the proper ones’. 

A 150g bag of Fruit Blasts can be purchased from B&M’s website at a cost of £1.

2. Calippo shots 

As an alternative: try Aldi Gianni’s Ice Coolers

An absolute must on a warm summer’s day, Calippo shots were a firm British favourite before they were sadly discontinued in 2020. 

Made up of tiny balls of flavoured ice that were stored in a shaker-style container, the small pellets will no doubt bring a strong sense of nostalgia to British shoppers.

Indeed, the desert was so popular that the product sold an abundance of flavours, including: strawberry, lemon-lime and the much-adored green Calippo shots variety. 

Since they were discontinued, many UK fans have called for them to be reinstated in UK stores. Meanwhile, a 2022 petition which called on former Prime Minister Liz Truss to bring them back was rejected by parliament.

However, while we are unlikely to see Calippo shots make a comeback, a quick trip to Aldi could help soften the blow.

For those seeking a similarly nostalgic treat, combining crushed ice with a flavoured syrup from your own home could be a cheap dupe. 

Meanwhile, Aldi’s Gianni’s Ice Coolers are said to be a tasty alternative at an incredibly affordable price: coming in at a cost of £1.59 for a packet of six.

3. Rowntree’s Bursting Bugs

As an alternative: try Sainsbury’s Bugs & Beetles

The gummy insect-shaped sweets first hit the shelves in 2000 and were adored by ’90s children for their gooey centre.

Forming part of Rowntree’s range that included Jelly Tots and Fruit Pastilles, they were sadly discontinued in 2003 due to low sales. 

Yet they continue to hold a special place in the hearts of many 90s kids, with many searching high and low for a fitting alternative. 

In come Sainsburys to the rescue, with their Bugs & Beetles sweet claimed by many to be a suitable dupe to the beloved Bursting Bugs. 

Taking to foodie group NewfoodsUK, one person commented: ‘I think these are the closest thing ‘ve found so far’, while another added: ‘OMG we need some of these 0 they look like the old squirty bugs Rowntree’s made’. 

Sainsbury’s Bugs & Beetles are described as ‘juicy and oozy fruit flavour gums’ and come at a cost of just 75p per bag. 

4. Mars Delight: 

As an alternative: try Cadbury’s Twirl Crispy Caramel Choc Top

The delicious Mars Delight bar combined milk chocolate, caramel and wafer and soon became one of the brand’s most popular bars on offer.

While the original Mars Bar contained nougat, the Mars Light had a crispy rippled wafer that melted in your mouth.  

Yet four years after it hit the shelves, it was discontinued in 2008, leaving chocolate lovers distraught. 

Despite a petition titled ‘Bring Back Mars Delight Bars!’ amassing more than 1,000 signatures, and indeed Mars themselves stating in 2016 that the chocolate bar was under ‘marketing review’, there has been little progress. 

In 2022, the Mars Delight was the UK’s most-missed discontinued sweet treat, while there were an estimated 103,200 searches for the Mars Delight in 2022, according to research by UK Coffee Friend.

Yet for those looking to satisfy their cravings with a similar taste, Cadbury’s Twirl Crispy Caramel Choc Top may be just what you are looking for.

Eagle-eyed shoppers have noticed a remarkable comparison, with one chocolate lover sharing on Facebook: ‘Awesome, that looks similar to the old Mars Delight.’

Cadbury’s Twirl Crispy Caramel Choc Top share pack can be purchased for £2.49 for a nine-pack and is often spotted on sale in B&M.

5. Cadbury Snaps

As an alternative: try Aldi’s Choceur Waves 

The Cadbury Snap was launched in 2004 and adored by chocolate lovers, with the thin and crisp chocolate-covered snaps offering several flavours.

Yet after being discontinued in 2010, fans have often searched high and low for an alternative, particularly around Christmas time. 

Despite their popularity, Cadbury previously took to X to confirm that there was little chance of them being spotted on the shelves again.

‘Hey, Cadbury Snaps have been discontinued,’ the confectionary company confirmed. 

They added: ‘However, we still have lots of other chocolatey treats to try.’

Yet there is hope for those seeking out a similar chocolate snack: with Aldi’s Choceur waves offering a perfect dupe of the sweet treat, and at a friendly cost of just £1.75 per box. 

Coming in flavours that include milk chocolate, salted caramel and orange, the crispy rice puffs have been dubbed reminiscent of the discontinued Cadbury Snaps. 

6. SwissKit crunch

As an alternative: try M&S’ Outrageously Chocolatey Milk Chocolate Wafers 

The SwissSkit muesli chocolate bar was adored by shoppers in the 70s and held the slogan: ‘I’ll risk it for a SwissKit’.

The nostalgic advert featured a man skiing down a mountain before crashing into a tree and is often remembered fondly by many as one of the first TV adverts that left them hooked. 

However, despite its popularity, the Swisskit bar disappeared from the shelves in the 1980s, and is now a thing of the past for many chocolate lovers. 

But for those wanting to re-live their childhood chocolate favourite, there is a rather scrumptious alternative: the M&S Outrageously Chocolatey Milk Chocolate Wavers have the chocolate-to-wafer ratio akin to the SwissKit. 

Retailing at a cost of £3, the popular wafer rounds ‘pair light and crunchy wafers with silky smooth milk chocolate’. 

7. Corona pop

As an alternative: try Fentimans’ soft drink beverages 

Adored by children across the UK for their tasty flavours, the Welsh-based soft drink was once so popular that it rivalled Coca-Cola and Pepsi. 

Famously offering door-to-door service across the UK during the 70s, the popular fizzy drinks came in glass bottles and included flavours such as Orengeade, Lemonade, Cherryade and Raspberryade. 

Yet while fondly remembered by many, Corona pop was sadly discontinued in the late 1990s, as customers began to purchase their drinks during a weekly supermarket shop, rather than relying on doorstep delivery.

Yet while the door-to-door delivery may be a thing of the past, the premium soft drink options by Fentimans strongly mimic the traditional bottles of Corona pop.

Offering many of the nostalgic flavours that were firm staples of Corona, such as Dandelion & Burdock and Cream Soda, Fentimans has a similarity in taste that is bound to take one back to that era. 

8. Nestle’s Animal Bar

As an alternative: try Nestle’s Jungly Chocolate 

In 2023, Nestle devastated chocolate fans when it announced it was discontinuing its Animal chocolate bar. 

First hitting the shelves in 1963, the bar featured two different animals moulded on the chocolate while also offering a fun game on the inside wrapper.

Yet it was ultimately discontinued as sales had ‘steadily declined’ over the past few years.

Announcing the devastating news in a statement, Nestle said: ‘We know fans will be disappointed to see it go, but this change will enable us to focus on our best-performing brands, as well as develop exciting new innovations to delight consumers’ tastebuds.’

Yet much to the delight of chocolate fans, Home Bargains has invested in a dupe of the childhood favourite, with Jungly Chocolate bars frequently spotted on their shelves.

While Nestle’s Jungly chocolate is typically only found in Spanish stores, eagle-eyed shoppers have began to spot it making numerous appearances across the UK, with the tasty bar strongly reminiscent of the beloved animal bar. 

Described as ‘a fun and nostalgic chocolate tablet made with smooth, creamy Nestlé milk chocolate and studded with crunchy biscuit pieces,’ the jungly chocolate can be found across Home Bargains stores at a cost of £1.49.