The candy aisle has always been a rotating door of sweet experiments, hasn’t it? From the chewy classics of the 1970s to the neon-wrapped novelties of the 1990s, some treats simply didn’t make it out alive. These weren’t just snacks—they were the very flavors of our school cafeterias, our movie nights, and those epic road trips that shaped entire decades. Some vanished for safety, others quietly faded when sales dipped, and a few were just victims of changing tastes.
Here at Bring Back Dialup, we’re all about chronicling the nostalgia behind discontinued foods that defined our collective childhoods. We’ve explored everything from forgotten Hostess snacks to those elusive Eggo flavors. But this time, we’re doing something extra special: we’re diving headfirst into the candy counter, because let’s be real, nothing quite tugs at the heartstrings like a candy you can no longer find!
So, get ready to embark on a deliciously bittersweet journey with us as we open a sugary time capsule, unwrapping one memory at a time. We’re talking about those iconic, cult-favorite candies that once graced our shelves but are now just a sweet echo in our minds. Let’s find out what honestly happened to these cherished, albeit vanished, confections!
1. **Butterfinger BB’s**Remember those glorious days when you could just pop a handful of mini Butterfinger spheres into your mouth without a care in the world? Butterfinger BB’s first burst onto the scene in the early 1990s, offering a delightful twist on the classic candy bar. They took everything we loved about the crispy, peanut-buttery original and shrunk it down into irresistible, bite-sized morsels. It was the perfect movie theater companion or a quick treat during study breaks, and for many, a true staple of their childhood.
However, even the most beloved candies aren’t immune to a few practical drawbacks. According to reports, one of the biggest complaints swirling around Butterfinger BB’s involved their tendency to melt and create a sticky mess. Imagine reaching into a bag on a warm day, only to pull out a gooey, indistinguishable clump of chocolate and peanut butter. It might have been delicious, but it certainly wasn’t convenient, and those ‘melt and mess complaints’ definitely started to add up.
Beyond the melty mishaps, the decision to discontinue Butterfinger BB’s in 2006 also came down to cold, hard business. Communications from Ferrero and Hershey over the years have consistently pointed to profitability concerns. It seems that despite their popularity and the fervent love of their fans, the cost-benefit analysis just didn’t quite balance out for these tiny titans of taste. Sometimes, even cult favorites get caught in the crosshairs of corporate strategy and lineup focus.
For many of us, the disappearance of Butterfinger BB’s left a Reese’s-Pieces-sized hole in our hearts. A Change.org petition was even initiated in an effort to bring the candy back, but seeing as it only garnered 57 signatures, it doesn’t seem like the candy will return anytime soon. While we can still enjoy the traditional Butterfinger bar, there’s just something about those little spheres that sparks a unique kind of sweet nostalgia.
Read more about: Seriously, Where Did They Go? We’re Remembering 12 Classic Snacks That Vanished From Our Shelves
2. **Hershey’s Kissables**Everyone knows and loves Hershey’s Kisses, those iconic, individually-wrapped chocolate drops that have been a classic for over a century. So, it made perfect sense when Hershey’s decided to launch a spin-off product in 2005: Hershey’s Kissables. These delightful little morsels took the traditional Kiss and gave it a colorful, sugary shell, ditching the foil wrapper for a more M&M-like experience. They were cute, they were colorful, and they seemed destined for success.
However, their sweet journey was cut tragically short. The downfall of Kissables can be traced back to a critical, cost-cutting reformulation. Hershey’s made the fateful decision to swap out cocoa butter for cheaper vegetable oils in their recipe. This change had a devastating impact, not only hurting the taste that consumers had come to expect from a Hershey’s product but also affecting the labeling, presumably due to new ingredient requirements.
The consequence of this reformulation was immediate and severe. Consumers noticed the difference, and it wasn’t for the better. The demand for Kissables plummeted, and despite their initial promise, it “never recovered.” It seems that sometimes, if it ain’t broke, you really shouldn’t try to fix it, especially when it comes to the beloved taste of chocolate.
Kissables were officially discontinued in July 2009, after a mere four years on the market. Their brief existence serves as a cautionary tale in the candy industry: messing with a classic formula, especially one involving chocolate, can be a risky business. Fans of the original Kisses, and even those who enjoyed the colorful spin-offs, learned a hard lesson about the delicate balance of taste and ingredient integrity.
3. **Altoids Sours**When you think of Altoids, your mind probably conjures images of those curiously strong mints in their iconic tin containers, right? Well, in the early 2000s, Altoids decided to venture beyond its minty stronghold and experiment with a completely different flavor profile: Altoids Sours. These brightly colored, fruit-flavored hard candies were a revelation, offering a powerful, tangy kick that quickly garnered a dedicated following among sour candy enthusiasts.
Altoids Sours debuted around 2004 and quickly became a favorite for those seeking an intense burst of fruity tartness. They were a playful departure from the brand’s traditional offerings, proving that Altoids could deliver more than just breath-freshening power. Their popularity was undeniable, creating a unique niche in the competitive candy market for their distinct sour intensity.
Unfortunately, despite their passionate fanbase, Altoids Sours faced a common foe: “low national demand.” While they might have been a cult favorite, they didn’t achieve the broad market penetration needed to sustain production on a large scale. This sad reality led to their discontinuation in 2010, much to the dismay of sour candy lovers everywhere. It’s a classic example of a beloved product not quite hitting the sales numbers needed to survive.
But here’s a sweet twist for those who mourned their loss! The story of Altoids Sours isn’t entirely over. Recognizing their enduring appeal, the brand was later revived in 2024 as “Retro Sours” by Iconic Candy, making a comeback at specialty retailers. So, while they vanished from mainstream shelves for a while, their legacy of curiously strong sourness proved too powerful to stay gone forever!
Read more about: A Delicious Blast from the Past: Discontinued Childhood Foods We Seriously Miss (and Still Dream About)
4. **Life Savers Holes**Who could forget the wonderfully quirky, yet ultimately problematic, Life Savers Holes? Introduced around 1990-1991, these small hard candies were designed to perfectly resemble the missing center of the iconic ring-shaped Life Savers. The idea was simple and playful: why waste the hole when you can turn it into a whole new candy? They came in various fruit flavors and, for a brief moment, were a fun addition to the candy scene.
However, sometimes the most innocent-seeming candies can hide serious issues. In the case of Life Savers Holes, the alarm bells started ringing almost immediately. The context explicitly states that a “packaging-related choking hazard prompted a nationwide withdrawal” in 1991, the same year they were launched. If you can’t help but immediately imagine the potential danger of choking on these small, round pieces, your logic is spot-on.
This wasn’t a case of slow sales or changing tastes; it was an urgent safety concern that led to their swift and decisive recall. The potential risk of these candies, especially for children, getting lodged in throats was too great to ignore. It underscored the critical importance of product design and safety, even for something as seemingly innocuous as a piece of candy.
So, after a truly minuscule run, Life Savers Holes were pulled from the market, making them one of the quickest discontinuations in candy history. While their concept was undeniably clever and unique, the paramount concern for public safety meant that this particular sweet experiment had to come to an abrupt end, leaving behind a memorable, if cautionary, tale in the annals of candy lore.
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5. **Marathon Bar (U.S., Mars)**Mars, a titan in the candy industry, has blessed us with countless enduring favorites like Snickers and M&M’s. But even giants have their misses, and one notable entry in that category was the Marathon Bar. Making its debut in 1973, this chocolate candy with a caramel center attempted to distinguish itself in a crowded market through one very specific feature: its impressive length.
Indeed, the Marathon Bar was a whopping 8 inches long! The very name suggested an endurance test, and one could easily understand how eating an entire bar might feel like a marathon in itself. This unique selling point certainly made it stand out on the shelves, capturing the attention of anyone looking for a substantial, chewy chocolate treat that promised to last.
Despite its distinctive size, the Marathon Bar ultimately struggled to find lasting success. Its discontinuation in 1981, after roughly 10 years on the market, was attributed to “poor sales” and its “extra-chewy format.” This chewiness, while a defining characteristic, was apparently both costly to produce and proved to be polarizing among consumers. Not everyone, it seems, wanted to spend a marathon’s worth of chewing on their candy.
The Marathon Bar is often compared to the UK’s Curly Wurly, suggesting a similar structural challenge. For those who remember its incredibly long, braided caramel goodness, its disappearance was a sad day. While the taste of chocolate and caramel endures in many forms, the Marathon Bar’s specific, drawn-out appeal, and its eventual failure to sustain sales, remains a nostalgic talking point for candy historians.
6. **Nestlé Choco’Lite**Nestlé really tried something different back in 1972 with the launch of Choco’Lite, a candy bar that dared to introduce the world to aerated chocolate in the U.S. Imagine a chocolate bar that was light, airy, and dissolved delightfully on your tongue—it was a novel concept that captured a certain kind of magic, appealing to those who sought a less dense, yet still utterly chocolatey, experience. This wasn’t just another solid slab; it was chocolate reimagined with a lighter touch.
For a while, Choco’Lite floated along, a quirky alternative in a market dominated by traditional chocolate bars. It had its moment in the sun, finding fans who appreciated its unique texture and how it simply felt… different. It was a testament to Nestlé’s willingness to innovate and experiment with the very form of chocolate, carving out a small, but memorable, niche for itself.
However, as with many trends, the aerated chocolate craze in the U.S. eventually began to deflate. By approximately 1982, about a decade after its debut, the specific niche that Choco’Lite had occupied began to fade. This dwindling interest ultimately led to the entire line being dropped, quietly disappearing from shelves in the early 80s.
It’s a classic candy story: sometimes even innovative concepts can’t withstand the shifting tides of consumer tastes and market trends. While we still see aerated chocolate in other forms today, Nestlé’s Choco’Lite serves as a nostalgic reminder of a time when lightness in chocolate was a fresh and exciting endeavor, a treat that briefly soared before gently settling back down to earth.
Read more about: The ’80s Sweet Spot: 14 Iconic Candy Bars That Vanished from Convenience Stores, Leaving Us Craving More!
7. **Bar None (Hershey)**For those who craved a candy bar that promised a little bit of everything crunchy and chocolatey, Hershey’s Bar None arrived in 1987 with a clear mission: to be ‘the chocolate bar that knew no bounds.’ It was a delightful blend, often featuring a chocolate wafer, chocolate cream, peanuts, and a milk chocolate coating, creating a satisfying multi-textural experience that quickly found a loyal following among snack enthusiasts.
This candy bar quickly became a fan favorite, celebrated for its robust combination of flavors and textures that truly set it apart. It had that undeniable ‘oomph’ that made it a go-to treat for many, promising a rich, indulgent experience in every bite. It seemed like Hershey’s had another winner on its hands, destined for a long and beloved run.
However, the story of Bar None took a turn in the 1990s when Hershey’s decided to tinker with a good thing. The context mentions that “recipe and format changes hurt sales.” This often happens when companies try to cut costs or ‘improve’ a product, inadvertently alienating the very fans who loved the original. These modifications led to a noticeable dip in consumer interest and, ultimately, sales.
Sadly, after about a decade on the market, Bar None was officially discontinued in 1997. But here’s a sweet twist for nostalgic fans: the brand was later revived independently by Iconic Candy! This shows that even after a corporate farewell, some beloved treats have such an enduring appeal that they get a second chance, proving that a true cult favorite never really says goodbye forever.
8. **Fruit String Thing (Betty Crocker)**If you grew up in the mid-1990s, chances are you remember the sheer joy of tearing open a Fruit String Thing! These Betty Crocker fruit snacks were more than just a treat; they were an edible art project. Recognized for their unique string-like appearance, which was arranged into various fun patterns right there on the packaging, they were as much about playing as they were about eating. Who didn’t try to unravel them into one super-long string before taking a bite?
They came in vibrant, classic flavors like cherry, strawberry, and a generic berry, making them a colorful and tasty addition to any lunchbox or after-school snack lineup. The sheer novelty of the design, combined with their chewy, fruity taste, made them a standout in the crowded fruit snack market. They were a genuine childhood staple, providing both entertainment and a sweet bite.
However, despite their initial popularity and the fun factor they brought to snacking, Fruit String Things had a somewhat “short lifecycle.” They quietly disappeared from shelves in the 2000s, fading without much fanfare or a grand farewell. It’s often the way with fruit snacks; they come, they go, and sometimes, their departure is as subtle as their arrival was exciting.
Their disappearance left a generation of kids—now adults—with fond memories of unraveling those fruity strands. It’s a bittersweet reminder that not all good things last forever, especially in the ever-evolving world of childhood snacks where new, exciting options are always vying for attention. Still, the memory of those playful, delicious strings remains a sweet part of 90s nostalgia.
9. **Ouch! Bubble Gum (Wrigley/Hubba Bubba)**In the 1990s, if you wanted to be the coolest kid on the block, you definitely needed to be seen with Ouch! Bubble Gum. This wasn’t just any bubble gum; it was a masterclass in novelty packaging. Imagine a colorful, Band-Aid style tin, perfectly designed to mimic an actual first-aid kit, but instead of bandages, it housed delicious strips of bubble gum! The visual gag alone was genius, making it an instant hit among kids looking for something quirky and fun.
Beyond the clever tin, the strips of bubble gum themselves were designed to look like individual Band-Aids, adding another layer to the playful concept. It was the kind of candy that sparked conversations, elicited giggles, and truly embraced the lighthearted, sometimes wacky, spirit of the 90s. The flavor was secondary to the experience, but it delivered a satisfying chew that delighted many.
Ouch! Bubble Gum enjoyed a good run, having some serious staying power throughout the 90s and into the early 2000s. But like many novelty items, its unique appeal eventually began to fade with time. It was officially discontinued around 2009, leaving many millennials with a strong pull of nostalgia for those iconic tins. It seems even the coolest packaging can’t keep a product going indefinitely.
Yet, the legacy of Ouch! Bubble Gum lives on! It periodically resurfaces via nostalgia sellers, proving that its unique charm still resonates with those who cherished it in their youth. It’s a fantastic example of how creative packaging can turn a simple candy into a lasting memory, making its return, even briefly, a truly delightful trip down memory lane.
10. **Snickers Cruncher (Mars)**When you’ve got a classic like Snickers, you might think there’s no need for variations, but Mars occasionally loves to experiment! That’s where the Snickers Cruncher came in, making its debut in the early 2000s. It was designed as a “short-run texture variant,” offering a slightly different twist on the beloved original with an added crispy element, likely appealing to those who wanted a bit more snap in their snack.
This crunchy cousin of the traditional Snickers aimed to capture a new segment of candy lovers, or perhaps just give existing fans a reason to try something new. It retained the familiar caramel and nougat, but with that extra crunch, it offered a distinct experience that stood apart from its chewy predecessor. It was a bold move to mess with a winning formula, but it showed Mars’ commitment to keeping things fresh and exciting.
However, despite its promising start and the enduring popularity of the Snickers brand, the Snickers Cruncher ultimately “did not sustain sales long term.” Its brief run saw it disappear from shelves in the late 2000s. It seems that while a little crunch was a nice idea, it wasn’t enough to secure its permanent place alongside the classic Snickers bar.
Its story serves as a gentle reminder that even the biggest candy titans can’t make every variation a permanent fixture. Some candies, no matter how delicious, are simply destined for a short but sweet journey, leaving behind just a whisper of their existence and a craving for that fleeting crunch. The original Snickers, of course, remains an unstoppable force, having proved its timeless appeal time and time again.
And there you have it, folks! Another deep dive into the candy graveyard, where delicious dreams sometimes go to rest. From aerated chocolate that just couldn’t quite fly forever to celebrity-backed bars that had their moment in the spotlight, and even interactive fruit snacks that made childhood a bit more playful—these candies, though gone, continue to spark joy and conversation. They remind us that the world of sweets is ever-changing, a vibrant tapestry of flavors and innovations, some destined for immortality, others for a cherished place in our nostalgic memories. So, next time you’re unwrapping a candy, take a moment to appreciate it; you never know which one might be making its final bow!
