Tasty Toobs: Smiths confirms beloved Aussie chip will return to shelves

After refusing to bring back this beloved Aussie chip, a rumour emerged online of its comeback. Now Smiths has confirmed the wild whispers.

A little over six months ago, we here at news.com.au, like Tina Arena before us, heard the sound of Australia’s – and Shane Warne’s – desperate call, echo up these dungeon walls.

Calling on people to vote for which “forgotten Aussie snack should come back”, there was a clear favourite: a humble, tubular, tomato-flavoured snack, better known as Tasty Toobs.

While they hit their peak in the 1970s, the chips – then known, like all icons (Beyonce, Prince, Bono – need we say more) by a single name: Toobs – were killed off by Smiths Snackfoods in 2001. Smiths obviously realised how foolish this was and revived the chips six years later in 2007, under the new name Tasty Toobs.

But in 2015, the company cried declining consumer demand, and savagely RIPPED the snack, in the dead of night, from shelves once and for all, without a second thought for our hearts, souls, or stomachs.

The aforementioned Spin King was distraught, openly mourning his fallen friend, hijacking broadcasts and begging his fellow countrymen to “get behind” him and call on Smiths to bring them back. Suffice to say, he failed.

When news.com.au launched its campaign in December to bring the chips back – pestering Smiths like an annoying younger sibling or a needy ex – we PROMISED we wouldn’t let you down.

After staying silent on the topic since that fateful October day in 2015, Smiths played coy.

A spokeswoman told news.com.au that while the company was aware “there’s a lot of love out there for them, we love them too”, there was “nothing planned for the immediate future”.

She did say, though, “we’d never say never”. We took those four words and we ran with them.

This was it. A sign from the heavens that we would, we could, do better than Warnie (sorry, Shane). If we couldn’t save 2020 (which, let’s be real, nothing could), we’d sure as shit try in 2021.

All of which is to say, ala Kamala Harris … we did it Joe.

June 11 will hereby be known as Toobsmas to all who observe it, after a video sent to news.com.au from PepsiCO ANZ confirmed that our tangy friend, Tasty Toobs, will return to their rightful place on Australian shelves.

Guess who’s coming back to Australian shelves …

“It’s safe to say that we have been overwhelmed by the level of support amongst you guys for the return of Tasty Toobs. And it’s no surprise to us that Aussies have rated Tasty Toobs the number one product they most want back on supermarket shelves. And we’ve been working on it for a while now and there have certainly been some challenges,” Vandita Pandey, CMO of PepsiCo ANZ, said in the clip.

“But thanks to your passion and persistence, we’re really excited to let you know that we’re bringing back Toobs.”

Ms Pandey said more details would be coming soon, urging fans to keep an eye out.

Never have the lyrics to Guy Sebastian’s Angels Brought Me Here been more fitting.

Rumours of their resurrection were first shared in May by the Bring back TOOBS Facebook page, which has amassed over 19,000 followers - and shared by another fan page, BRING BACK TASTY TOOBS, yesterday, it was met with an outpouring of emotion and pure joy.

Were tears shed? We wouldn’t doubt it.

“OMG my mouth literally started watering at the thought! Cannot wait for this moment!” one woman declared on social media, while many more added it was “about time”.

“Awwww Stop it on my birthday too YOU BLOODY RIPPA HAPPY 50TH TO ME THE RETURN OF TOOBS & OFF TO SEE THE ANGELS LIFES GREAT,” wrote another.

RELATED: Coles, Woolies sell expensive item for $1

We did it Warnie! Picture: Supplied

“Yyyaaasssssss the best ever. The only chip dangerous to my tongue. I literally lick all the flavour off then eat the chip. by the end of a packet it’s like I’ve been licking concrete all day,” one person admitted. “Wouldn’t change it for the world.”

That’s love, people. Flaws and all.

“Finally you return you beautiful thing,” said one man. “I’ll give you a shelf on my pantry.”

“Is this real or do I have to pinch myself?” said another.

What more can we say, except for...you’re welcome, Australia.