Topic bar anyone? Much-loved chocolate bars that fans want back (2024)

Nostalgic chocoholics were sent into mourning yesterday with news that Nestle is to discontinue two much loved sweet treats.

The Breakaway - first launched in 1970 and the Yorkie Biscuit bars - are being scrapped.

They are just the latest in a string of chocolate bars that have been killed off in the past two decades - and some fans want them back.

The Caramac, which first appeared on shelves in 1959, was discontinued last year.

The Topic bar, which was introduced in 1962 with the promise of 'a hazelnut in every bite', made a final farewell in 2021.

And the Time Out, a wafer-based treat slathered in Cadbury milk chocolate, was scrapped after 24 years in 2016.

Other discontinued treats include the Aztec bar, which left shelves in 1978; Fry's Five Centres, which was scrapped in 1992 and the Secret, which disappeared in the 1990s.

Breakaway biscuit bar: 1970-2024

Made up of acrunchy digestive biscuit covered in milk chocolate, the Breakaway was a school lunchbox favourite in the 1980s.

Its distinctive yellow wrapper made it stand out among significant competition.

Its fortunes were also boosted by the 1983 advert that featured the catchy 'Don't take away my Breakaway' jingle.

It showed the 'meanest geezer in the city' being told by his mum: 'I'll take away your Breakaway'.

However, Nestle said it will be discontinued next month after dwindling sales in recent years.

Caramac: 1959-2023

Introduced by confectionary firm Mackintosh's in 1959, the Caramac wasa staple for Generation X.

Its name was a combination of 'caramel' and the name of the firm which created it.

The name was settled upon after a competition was held among workers at Mackintosh's factory in Norwich.

With its distinctive red and yellow wrapper and caramel flavour, the Caramac was hugely popular until increasing competition saw sales decline.

Nestle announced in November last year they were scrapping it.

A spokesman 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' taste buds.'

Topic: 1962-2021

Introduced by Mars in 1962, the Topic was a favourite of fans who didn't mind nuts in their chocolate.

As well as being a standalone bar, the Topic featured in boxes of Celebrations chocolates until 2006.

In 1997, a recruitment consultant sued Mars after finding part of a dead mouse in the Topic Bar she had bought from a kiosk in London's Piccadilly.

She told a court how she was physically sick when she bit into the rodent's skull, crushed teeth and backbone.

However, Nestle was acquitted of breaching the Food Safety Act because the mouse parts were among hazelnuts that had been sent to a UK factory from a supplier in Turkey.

Mars discontinued the Topic in 2021, citing declining sales.

Cadbury Aztec: 1967-1978

Launched in 1967, the Aztec bar was made of milk chocolate, nougat and caramel.

The treat, which came in a dark purple wrapper, was hugely popular for a brief period.

Often referred to as Cadbury's answer to the Mars Bar, the bar was discontinued in 1978 but is still fondly remembered by some.

Secret: 1980s-1990s

The Secret was introduced by Rowntree Mackintosh in the 1980s.

The bar had a rippled pattern on the outside and boasted a creamy mouse centre, similar to the filling of a Walnut Whip.

It was promoted in a 1940s-style TV advert in the 1990s that featured the strapline: 'You can't trust anyone to keep a secret.'

The product was discontinued later in the 1990s, leaving some fans upset.

Fry's Five Centres: 1934-1992

First launched in 1934, Fry's Five Centres allowed chocolate fans to enjoy five flavours in a single bar.

The chocolate consisted of five segments, each of which had a creamy filling with a different flavour.

Fans enjoyed raspberry, coffee, lime, blackcurrant and orange flavours all in the same bar.

However, Fry's discontinued the bar in 1992 after nearly 60 years in production.

Time Out: 1992-2016

The original Time Out bars first appeared in 1992 under the slogan 'the wafer break with a layer of Flake'.

The treat was made up of a pair of wafers that were smothered in Dairy Milk chocolate.

However, in 2016, Cadbury scrapped the bar and replaced it with the single-bar 'Time Out Wafer'.

White Maltesers: 2003-2014

White chocolate Maltesers were first introduced in 2003 as a seasonal limited-edition product.

A take on the much-loved original milk chocolate Maltesers, the white versions were an instant success.

Their popularity prompted maker Mars to make them all-year round.

They lasted for 12 years before they were discontinued in 2014.

However, Mars have in recent years released white chocolate 'Maltesers mini bunnies' and 'white truffles' and they remain on sale.

Cadbury Fuse: 1996-2006

Launched in 1996, the Cadbury Fuse was a regular feature in lunchboxes until 2006, when it was discontinued in the UK.

The Fuse Bar incorporated milk chocolate, nuts, raisins, cereal and fudge pieces.

Fuse became Cadbury's fastest selling bar since the debut of Wispa in 1983.

A substantial marketing campaign led to a nationwide launch of the product on 'FuseDay' - Tuesday, 24 September, 1996.

Cadbury Dream: 2001-2002

Cadbury's Dream chocolate bar, made with real cocoa butter, gained a dedicated fanbase in the early 2000s.

However, despite its popularity, the treat was discontinued shortly after its 2001 launch.

It was reintroduced as Cadbury White in 2019, but struggled to attract a larger following.

Cadbury Dream is still manufactured in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.