Opal Fruits, the retro sweet treat discontinued in 1998, have been spotted back on UK supermarket shelves at Poundland, Home Bargains and B&M, priced at £1, 99p and 95p respectively. The fruity chews, which debuted in 1960, were rebranded as Starburst in 1998, with flavour changes including the merger of lemon and lime and the addition of blackcurrant.
Nostalgia-driven revival
Mars Wrigley first revived Opal Fruits in 2020 for a limited period, with another batch hitting Tesco stores last summer. Now, fans have found sharing packs in discount retailers. Over on Facebook, the Forth Valley Food Guy posted a photo of his find, writing: 'Thought I was seeing things, when did this happen?' 'Britain is healing,' joked Dncan Mkenzee in the comments, while Stuart Combe, quoting the iconic 70s ad slogan, added: 'Made to make your mouth water.'
Fans prefer original over Starburst
On Reddit, @Defiant-Yellow-2375 said Opal Fruits had a 'genuinely poetic name for a sweet,' while @Glittery_Sky4612 'loved them.' @BECKYISHERE claimed they're 'much better than Starburst,' a sentiment echoed by @Mockingjay1013, who wrote: 'Starburst just aren’t the same.' Opal Fruit ice lollies have also been praised, with @cmwagstaf1 calling them 'absolutely elite' with a 'lovely sorbet coating.'
Other discontinued treats making comebacks
White Chocolate Maltesers, first launched in 2003 and discontinued in 2014, returned in June last year after fan demand. Milky Way Crispy Rolls, axed in 2022, made a comeback following an online petition with 9,000 signatures, with Mars admitting it had 'made a mistake.' The brand also added Twix Crispy Rolls and Bounty Crispy Rolls. Marathon bars, renamed Snickers in 1990, were revived on a limited basis last year, with fans on Reddit claiming they tasted better under the original name.
