Fantales join long list of axed sweet childhood favourites

Sweet tooths are reeling from the bitter loss of Starburst lollies, Polly Waffles, Spearmint Leaves, Green Frogs and now Fantales.

The last few packets of Fantales are being snapped up by devotees. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

The imminent axing of Fantales has left a bitter taste for many, but the iconic cinema snack joins a long list of treats that are now merely a sweet memory.

Fantales will cease production in July.

Starburst lollies vanished in 2022.

Fantales will join Polly Waffles, Starburst lollies, Steam Rollers, Allen’s Spearmint Leaves and Green Frogs on the list of lost childhood favourites when production ends next month.

Nestle axed Polly Waffles in 2009, sparking uproar.

But the wafer and marshmallow-filled chocolate bars are expected to be back on shelves soon under new owner Menz Confectionery, an Adelaide company.

A Facebook group called Bring back the Pollywaffle with more than 53,000 followers has been sharing updates ahead of the promised imminent return.

Allen’s Spearmint Leaves and Green Frogs were discontinued in 2014 because of poor sales, according to parent company Nestlé.

Spearmint Leaves made a brief Covid comeback in 2020, just in time to help lolly lovers survive iso, but are “not available” again, according to Nestle, owner of Allen’s.

Allen's Green Frogs have hopped off shelves for good.

Allen’s Red Frogs, which are still sold, were outselling Green Frogs by 10 to one at the time the latter hopped off into the sunset.

Green Frogs briefly reappeared as part of Allen’s Frog Family assorted bag, but those have now vanished as well.

Nestle spokeswoman Sally Strautins said the discontinuation of some lollies reflected changing tastes and rising popularity of newer products.

“The biggest sellers at the moment are still Snakes Alive and Party Mix,” she said.

Starburst lollies were quietly discontinued last year, with Mars Wrigley saying it was no longer importing them from Europe amid supply chain difficulties and rising costs.

Other favourites have undergone makeovers to avoid perceptions of cultural insensitivity.

Red Skins are now called Red Ripperz.

Chicos are now Cheekies.

Allen’s recently re-released its Red Skins chewy raspberry-flavoured sticks as Red Ripperz and changed its Chicos choc-flavoured jelly lollies to Cheekies.

“Redskins” is a derogatory term for Native Americans, while “chico” is a Spanish word for “boy” or “child”.

Arnotts Golliwog biscuits were rebranded in the 1990s, then vanished.

Golliwog biscuits, first sold in the 1960s, were made in the shape of the Golliwog dolls that were popular in that era.

They were rebranded as Scalliwag biscuits in the mid-1990s, though they retained their distinctive Golliwog shape.

But the biscuits were discontinued by the late 1990s, when Golliwogs went out of favour worldwide amid perceptions they were racist.

Similarly, Peters Eskimo Pies, which celebrate their 100th birthday this year, are now sold instead as Polar Pies to avoid offence.

And Fags, lollies made to looks like lit cigarettes, were renamed Fads in the mid-1990s, caving to pressure from the anti-smoking lobby.

Old favourites Minties, Violet Crumbles and Polly Waffles on sale in 1971.

While Nestle Milo bars are still around, connoisseurs say they are unrecognisable from the original 1980s solidified blocks of pure Milo dipped in chocolate.

Bags of bite-sized Violet Crumbles were discontinued by Nestlé in 2010 three years before their 100th birthday, but made a triumphant return in 2019 under new owners Menz.

Nestle’s Bertie Beetles, originally made to use up the honeycomb offcuts of Violet Crumbles, were only available in showbags for decades, but can now be bought at select retailers.

On Tuesday, Nestle made the shock announcement that Fantales, chewy chocolate-covered caramels in wrappers with movie star stories, are being axed after a 93-year run amid declining sales.

AXED

Fantales

Polly Waffles

Starburst lollies

Allen’s Spearmint Leaves

Allen’s Green Frogs

Allen’s Frog Family

Allen’s Steam Rollers

Golliwog biscuits

The original Nestle Milo bars

Fags (now Fads)

Red Skins (now Red Ripperz)

Chicos (now Cheekies)

Eskimo Pies (now Polar Pies)