10 Candy Bars from the '70s You Can’t Find Today

For a child in the 1970s, the local candy counter was a place of constant discovery, where new brands appeared frequently to challenge established giants like Snickers or Hershey’s. The decade was defined by “gimmick” bars and even some that were marketed specifically after sports legends. This era of candy production prioritized novelty and tactile experiences, such as the chewiness of a braided bar or the “fizz” of a powdered candy. However, the economic shifts of the late ’70s and early ’80s led to many of these beloved snacks being quietly retired. Whether due to the difficulty of maintaining a complex manufacturing process or legal battles over catchy names, these 10 candy bars have left a sugary void in the hearts of those who remember their distinct wrappers and unique flavors.

1. The Marathon Bar

Introduced by Mars in 1973, the Marathon bar was a legendary sight in 1970s candy aisles, thanks to its impressive length. Measuring a full 8 inches, the bar featured a distinctive braided pattern of chewy caramel, heavily coated in milk chocolate. To prove its size to skeptical kids, the wrapper actually had a ruler printed right on the back, making it feel like the ultimate value for a pocketful of change. It was marketed with a cowboy character named “Marathon John,” who emphasized that the bar “lasted a long time” because of its dense, chewy texture. Despite being a fan favorite and a top seller for nearly a decade, Mars discontinued the bar in 1981, likely because the complex braiding process was becoming too expensive to maintain. While the British “Curly Wurly” offers a similar look today, many purists argue that it lacks the sheer scale and substantial chew of the original American Marathon.

2. The Reggie! Bar

Launched in 1978, the Reggie! Bar was a direct tie-in to the massive popularity of New York Yankees superstar Reggie Jackson. This wasn’t just a standard candy bar; it was a round, puck-like patty consisting of a rich caramel center and crunchy peanuts, all covered in a thick layer of milk chocolate. The bar was famously introduced at the Yankees’ home opener, when thousands were given away to fans, leading to a legendary moment when the field was showered with orange wrappers after Jackson hit a home run. It was a “home run” for the Standard Brands company, which later became part of Clark, but the bar’s success was tied heavily to the height of Jackson’s “Mr. October” fame. As his career transitioned and marketing trends shifted in the 1980s, the Reggie! Bar was eventually retired, leaving fans of both baseball and chocolate missing its unique circular shape and heavy peanut crunch.

3. Seven Up Bar

The Seven Up bar was one of the most unique and ambitious candies ever produced, offering seven different flavors in seven separate chocolate pillows. Originally manufactured by Pearson’s, this bar was perfect for kids who couldn’t decide on a single flavor, as each segment contained a different filling such as cherry, coconut, caramel, fudge, jelly, maple, or orange. It was like having a miniature box of assorted chocolates in a single bar, and the mystery of which flavor came next was part of the fun. However, the bar faced a significant legal challenge in the late 1970s when 7-Up sued over trademark infringement of the name. Rather than rebranding or fighting a long legal battle, Pearson’s decided to discontinue the bar in 1979. While a similar four-segment “Sky Bar” still exists in some niche markets, it lacks the variety and the iconic “one for every day of the week” appeal of the original Seven Up.

4. Choco’Lite Bar

Nestlé introduced the Choco’Lite bar in the early 1970s, capitalizing on the growing consumer interest in “light” or aerated food products. The bar looked like a standard slab of milk chocolate from the outside, but the inside was filled with thousands of tiny air bubbles, giving it a light, honeycomb-like texture that shattered when bitten. It also featured tiny “crisped” bits of chocolate within the aerated structure to add a secondary crunch. The marketing focused on the idea that the bar was “lighter than air,” making it a popular choice for those who wanted a sweet treat that didn’t feel as heavy as a dense nougat bar. It enjoyed a successful run throughout the decade, but Nestlé eventually moved away from the brand in 1982. While the “Aero” bar remains popular in the UK and Canada, the specific Choco’Lite formula and its distinct ’70s packaging remain a lost treasure for American candy fans.

5. Summit Bar

The Summit bar was Mars’ attempt to create a more sophisticated, “adult-style” candy bar in 1977, featuring two light, crispy wafers topped with a layer of chopped peanuts and covered in milk chocolate. Because it came with two sticks in one wrapper, it was often compared to a Twix bar, but with a focus on a lighter crunch rather than a heavy biscuit. It was marketed as a more refined snack that could be enjoyed with a cup of coffee or as a quick afternoon break. Despite a strong start and memorable television commercials, the Summit bar had a major flaw: the delicate wafers were prone to getting crushed during shipping, and the chocolate had a tendency to melt more easily than denser bars. These logistical issues, combined with a crowded market, led Mars to pull the product in the early 1980s. It remains a “lost” favorite for those who preferred a crispy, airy texture over heavy caramel.

6. PowerHouse Bar

Manufactured by Peter Paul (and later Cadbury), the PowerHouse was a heavyweight contender in the 70s candy world, living up to its name with a massive, dense composition. It featured a thick slab of fudge and caramel that was absolutely packed with whole roasted peanuts and then dipped in a shell of dark milk chocolate. It was often positioned as the more substantial rival to the Snickers bar, marketed toward people who needed a high-energy snack to get through a long day. The bar had a dedicated following because it felt “sturdier” and more filling than its competitors. However, as Peter Paul merged with other companies and the brand portfolio was consolidated, the PowerHouse was viewed as redundant alongside more famous peanut-heavy bars. By the mid-1980s, the brand was discontinued, leaving fans to settle for Snickers, though many still swear the PowerHouse had a superior fudge-to-peanut ratio

7. Snik Snak Stiks

Mars introduced Snik Snak Stiks in the 1970s as a direct competitor to the Kit Kat, offering a similar experience but with a slightly different twist. The package contained several individual chocolate-covered wafer sticks that were meant to be snapped off and shared—or eaten one by one. The name was a playful take on the concept of “snacking,” and the marketing used the tagline “Take a break, take a Snik Snak.” While the wafers were light and the chocolate was the high-quality Mars blend, it struggled to carve out its own identity in a market where Kit Kat was already the undisputed king of wafer bars. By the end of the 1970s, Mars decided to focus its efforts on its more unique creations, and Snik Snak Stiks were quietly phased out. They are remembered today as a rare example of a “copycat” bar that was actually high quality but simply couldn’t overcome the brand loyalty of its rival.

8. Caravelle Bar

The Caravelle bar, produced by Peter Paul, was a beloved ’70s treat that combined a light, crispy rice center with a thick layer of creamy caramel and a milk chocolate coating. It was essentially the precursor to the modern 100 Grand bar but with a slightly different texture and a more prominent caramel flavor. The name “Caravelle” gave it an exotic, slightly sophisticated feel, and it was a common sight in vending machines and grocery store checkout lines. For many kids, the draw was the way the crispy rice provided a loud “crunch” that contrasted with the pull of the soft caramel. Despite its popularity and a long history dating back to the late ’60s, the Caravelle was eventually rebranded and integrated into other product lines after Hershey’s acquired the Peter Paul brands. The “Caravelle” name and its iconic orange-and-brown wrapper disappeared, much to the disappointment of those who loved its unique balance of ingredients.

9. Milkshake Bar

The Milkshake bar was a unique creation from the Hollywood Candy Company that aimed to replicate the experience of a malted milkshake in solid form. It featured a thick, malt-flavored nougat center that was much lighter and “fluffier” than the nougat found in a Milky Way or 3 Musketeers bar. This center was then covered in a thin but rich coating of milk chocolate. The bar was famous for its ability to be frozen; 70s kids would often put them in the freezer for an hour to give the nougat a firm, ice-cream-like consistency that melted slowly in the mouth. As the Hollywood Candy Company went through several ownership changes (eventually being absorbed by Leaf and then Hershey), the Milkshake bar lost its marketing support and was eventually discontinued. While malted milk is still a popular flavor in candies like Whoppers, the specific “malted nougat” texture of the Milkshake bar is a lost art.

10. Butternut Bar

The Butternut bar was another classic from the Hollywood Candy Company that was a staple of the 1970s but has since vanished. It featured a dense, sweet nougat center topped with a layer of smooth caramel and a generous amount of crushed peanuts, all encased in a milk chocolate shell. It was similar in structure to a Snickers, but the nougat had a distinct “buttery” flavor that set it apart and gave the bar its name. The Butternut was a favorite for those who found the Snickers nougat to be too salty or plain. Like the Milkshake bar, its downfall was due to corporate consolidation in the late 80s. When the production moved between different companies, the Butternut was eventually discontinued to avoid competing with more famous “peanut and nougat” bars. It remains one of the most frequently cited “forgotten” bars among people who grew up during the disco decade.

• Tags:
• Discontinued Bars
• candy history
• ’70s nostalgia
• Classic Sweets
• lost brands