CHOCOHOLICS have spotted a long-lost Cadbury bar back on sale in Britain for the first time in over two decades.
The aerated treat was originally launched as the Wispa in 1981 before being re-branded as Dairy Milk Bubbly as part of a relaunch in the early 2000s.
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Wispa itself made a triumphant comeback in 2007 after huge demand, but Bubbly never returned, until now.
The Cadbury Dairy Milk Bubbly, which last appeared in UK shops in 2003, has suddenly been found in bargain chain Farmfoods, selling at two for £1.
One eagle-eyed shopper shared their discovery in Facebook’s popular Food Finds group, revealing shelves stacked with 28g bars of the discontinued chocolate.
The return stunned sweet-toothed fans.
One wrote: “The Bubbly bar has returned!” while another gasped: “Oh my god.”
It’s not just Bubbly bars appearing in stores.
The same shopper also spotted retro Nestlé Corn Flake bars and even a rare Cadbury Moro – all imported by Farmfoods, which has sourced the bars from abroad.
That means other major supermarkets are unlikely to have them.
Bubbly was always known for its lighter texture compared to a regular Dairy Milk.
Food site Candy Blog describes it as having “a sweet, milky chocolate flavour” with bubbles that “melt quickly on the tongue” and give it a creamier feel.
Different versions of Cadbury favourites exist across the world, with recipes tailored to suit local tastes.
Some countries prefer sweeter flavours, while others get limited-edition launches using regional ingredients.
That’s why shoppers sometimes stumble across products in discount chains that they thought had vanished for good.
Why snacks disappear and sometimes come back
Everyone has a discontinued treat they wish could return.
But insiders at big names like Mars and Walkers say tough decisions are made because of limited shelf space and changing tastes.
Steph Herbert, head of marketing at Walkers, previously explained: “Shops only hold a certain number of products at any one time. When a new flavour comes in, something else might have to go.”
Meanwhile, Lizzy Dinsdale, principal chocolate scientist at Mars, previously said experts constantly track flavour trends to see what might work in the future.
She revealed: “We’re always looking at what’s popular right now, but also predicting what people will want in five or ten years.”
Sometimes nostalgia wins out. Mars recently revived its much-loved Crispy Rolls after a petition gathered more than 8,000 signatures.
Walkers, too, was forced to bring back Worcestershire Sauce crisps after dropping them in 2023 sparked fury among fans.
Could Bubbly stay?
Cadbury has not officially announced a permanent comeback for the Dairy Milk Bubbly.
For now, Farmfoods is the only place selling the imported bars, making them a rare find for shoppers desperate for a taste of the past.
But chocolate experts say the popularity of retro treats shows how powerful nostalgia can be.
A spokesperson at Mars previously said: “When we see clear demand from consumers, whether through petitions or social media, we take note. Listening to fans really does make a difference.”
For now, chocoholics will have to make do with the Farmfoods imports and hope Cadbury takes notice of the excitement online.
Cadbury has been approached for comment.
Why are products axed or recipes changed?
ANALYSIS by chief consumer reporter James Flanders.
Food and drinks makers have been known to tweak their recipes or axe items altogether.
They often say that this is down to the changing tastes of customers.
There are several reasons why this could be done.
For example, government regulation, like the “sugar tax,” forces firms to change their recipes.
Some manufacturers might choose to tweak ingredients to cut costs.
They may opt for a cheaper alternative, especially when costs are rising to keep prices stable.
For example, Tango Cherry disappeared from shelves in 2018.
It has recently returned after six years away but as a sugar-free version.
Fanta removed sweetener from its sugar-free alternative earlier this year.
Suntory tweaked the flavour of its flagship Lucozade Original and Orange energy drinks.
While the amount of sugar in every bottle remains unchanged, the supplier swapped out the sweetener aspartame for sucralose.
