10 British Snacks That Don’t Exist Anymore

Video Description

What are the 10 British snacks that don’t exist anymore? British snack history is full of flavours that quietly disappeared without warning. These were treats found in corner shops, school bags, glove compartments, and kitchen cupboards across the UK. Some were bold and noisy, others gentle and comforting, but all became part of everyday routines. Over time, changing tastes, rebrands, and commercial decisions slowly erased them from shelves. What remains are memories, debates, and a lingering sense that snacks once had more personality. This is a verified look back at ten British snacks that genuinely vanished. 10. Smiths Crispy Tubes Smiths Crispy Tubes were a short-lived but memorable experiment in British crisps. Launched in the late 1980s by Smiths Snackfoods, they stood out immediately because of their hollow, tube-shaped design. This structure wasn’t a gimmick—it changed how they tasted. Each bite delivered a loud crunch and an intense hit of seasoning, especially in the popular Cheese & Onion flavour. They were unapologetically messy. Powdered flavour clung to fingers, encouraging the very British habit of licking fingertips clean after the bag was finished. Crispy Tubes felt playful and slightly chaotic compared to traditional flat crisps, which made them especially appealing to younger snackers. Despite their popularity, Crispy Tubes were discontinued in the 1990s following changes within Smiths after corporate acquisitions. No official revival has ever occurred. Their disappearance marked the end of one of the more creative crisp designs the UK has produced, and they remain a frequent topic in online nostalgia discussions. 9. Spangles Spangles were introduced in 1951 by Mars and quickly became a staple of British sweet culture. Their distinctive square shape and strong flavours set them apart from softer sweets of the era. Varieties like Cola, Old English, and Spearmint appealed to adults as much as children, giving Spangles an unusually broad fan base. They were discontinued in 1984, largely due to changing consumer preferences and production priorities. While Spangles briefly returned in limited revival runs during the 1990s and again in 2009, these were temporary promotions rather than permanent relaunches. Today, Spangles no longer exist as a regularly available British sweet. Their legacy survives through memory rather than packaging, often associated with car journeys, handbags, and sweet jars rather than supermarkets. In the history of discontinued UK sweets, Spangles remain one of the most fondly remembered. 8. Tootie Frooties Tootie Frooties were brightly coloured, chewy cubes originally produced by Rowntree before later falling under Nestlé ownership. In the UK, they were especially popular during the 1960s and 1970s, becoming a playground favourite thanks to their bold colours and long-lasting chew. Each colour was perceived as a different flavour, adding a sense of choice and excitement despite their simple design. They were also notorious for sticking to teeth, which only added to their character rather than deterring fans. Tootie Frooties were discontinued in the UK in the 1980s. Although the name survives in the United States, the American version is a different product entirely. The original British Tootie Frooties no longer exist, making their inclusion here fully accurate in a UK context. ✅ For business inquiries, contact me at [email protected] IMPORTANT INFORMATION This video contains images that were used under a Creative Commons License. If you have any issue with the photos used in my channel or you find something that belongs to you before you claim it to youtube, please SEND ME A MESSAGE and I will DELETE it immediately. Thanks for understanding. Click here to see the full list of images and attributions: