18 Candy Brands That Were Huge — and Then Vanished
Many once-popular candy brands disappeared over the years due to changing tastes, poor sales, or company takeovers.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 5 min read
Several candy brands that dominated store shelves in the past are no longer available today. Some were discontinued because of low demand, while others vanished after corporate mergers or formula changes. These lost candies still hold a place in the memories of those who grew up enjoying them.
1. PB Max
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Launched by Mars in the early 1990s, PB Max was a mix of peanut butter, oats, and a cookie base covered in milk chocolate. It sold well but was discontinued after only a few years. Some reports suggest Mars executives didn’t like peanut butter. Despite its short run, many people still ask for it to return.
2. Marathon Bar
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Introduced in 1973, the Marathon Bar was a long, braided caramel candy coated in chocolate. It measured eight inches and came with a ruler on the package to prove it. It was discontinued in 1981 due to declining sales. A similar version still exists in the UK under a different name.
3. Bar None
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Bar None was introduced by Hershey in 1987 as a rich chocolate bar with layers of cocoa wafers, chocolate filling, and peanuts. It was popular for a while but was reformulated in the 1990s, and as a result, it lost its fan base. The new version didn’t catch on, and Hershey pulled it from the shelves. Some candy makers have since tried to bring it back independently.
4. Reggie! Bar
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Named after baseball player Reggie Jackson, the Reggie! Bar was a round chocolate, caramel, and peanut treat. It was first released in 1978 and came back briefly in the 1990s. Its popularity faded quickly after its novelty wore off. It’s now remembered mostly as a sports-related product.
5. Seven Up Bar
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The Seven Up Bar, unrelated to the soda, featured seven interconnected chocolate-filled segments, each with a distinct flavor, such as nougat, coconut, or caramel. Made by Pearson’s Candy Company, it was available for decades. It was eventually discontinued in the 1970s due to high production costs. Its complex design made it hard to manufacture.
6. Summit Bar
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The Summit Bar was a chocolate-covered wafer and peanut bar made by Mars in the 1980s. It was packaged in a twin bar format, similar to Twix. It was pulled from stores after changes to its size and formula failed to improve sales. Consumers found it too messy to eat and hard to store.
7. Butterfinger BB’s
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These bite-sized Butterfinger pieces were introduced in the 1990s and became popular after being featured in ads with The Simpsons. They were easier to snack on than the regular bar. Production stopped in the mid-2000s, likely due to changes in company ownership. Fans still ask for their return online.
8. Bonkers!
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Bonkers! were chewy fruit candies with a soft fruity center, sold in bright wrappers. Made by Nabisco in the 1980s, they had a loyal following. Ads were loud and colorful, but the candy faded from shelves in the early 1990s. Attempts to relaunch it in recent years have not been successful.
9. Choco’Lite
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Choco’Lite was a light and airy chocolate bar produced by Nestlé. It was filled with bubbles, similar to Aero or Wispa. It disappeared from U.S. shelves in the 1980s due to poor sales and tough competition. It’s rarely mentioned today but had a brief moment in the spotlight.
10. Oompas
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Made by Willy Wonka Brands, Oompas were large, peanut butter and chocolate candy-coated pieces, similar to oversized M&Ms. They were available in the 1970s and early 1980s. Later, the recipe changed to a fruity version, which confused fans. Neither version lasted long in stores.
11. Max Headroom Candy
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This candy was part of a short-lived product line based on the 1980s TV character Max Headroom. It had flashy packaging and a cola-flavored center. It was discontinued when the character’s popularity faded. It’s now a rare item for collectors.
12. Tart ‘n’ Tinys
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Tart ‘n’ Tinys were small, colorful fruit-flavored candies that looked like tiny pills. Originally hard, they were later made chewy, which turned off longtime fans. Both versions eventually disappeared. They are sometimes seen in retro candy shops but aren’t widely available.
13. Banana Split Chews
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These chewy, banana-flavored taffy candies were wrapped in yellow paper with red writing. They were a staple of penny candy sections. They slowly disappeared as other fruity taffies took their place. Today, they are rare and not part of major candy lines.
14. Reed’s Candy Rolls
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Reed’s made hard candy rolls in flavors like root beer, cinnamon, and butterscotch. They were sold alongside Life Savers and looked similar. The brand was discontinued for many years before a short-lived revival. They’re still hard to find and not in major retail stores.
15. Razzles Gum
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Razzles were a candy that turned into gum after a few chews. They first appeared in the 1960s and remained popular into the 1980s. Although not entirely gone, they’re no longer widely sold. Newer generations are often unfamiliar with them.
16. Marpo Marshmallow Cones
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These were marshmallow treats shaped like ice cream cones, with colorful tops and a soft interior. They were sold at candy counters and fairs. Their shelf life was short, and they didn’t handle heat well. They’ve mostly disappeared except for small novelty stores.
17. Bit-O-Licorice
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A spinoff of Bit-O-Honey, Bit-O-Licorice had a chewy texture and black licorice flavor. It had a small but dedicated fan base. It didn’t sell well enough to stay in production. Today, it’s mostly forgotten outside of nostalgia forums.
18. Wacky Wafers
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These thin, large, disk-shaped wafers came in fruity flavors like banana, watermelon, and green apple. They were discontinued in the 1990s. A brief comeback was attempted in 2017, but distribution was limited. They haven’t fully returned to mainstream candy aisles.