The ultimate list of 40 chocolate snack bars popular in UK, including chocolate bars history, interesting facts, photos and taste notes. The best selling chocolate bars in Britain as well as fun facts about the less known brands and the chocolate bars that’s been discontinued.
I’ve recently decided to challenge myself to a chocolate bar knowledge quiz. I didn’t score badly at all, but the problem is that when you spend your days educating people in eating good quality chocolate, you really don’t eat that many mainstream chocolate bars.
So, I thought I should really find out more about traditional chocolate snack bars. Whilst I still prefer my own handmade chocolate bars on most days, there is a time and place when onlyTwixwill do!
Since starting my chocolate business in 2010, I’ve been running chocolate parties for children and adults, and the Chocolate Bar Quiz is always very popular – especially because the winning team always gets the selection of the top 25 chocolate snack bars.
So, here I wanted to share with you my favourite and also best-selling 40 chocolate snack bars in the UK, including their rich history, how they taste and any fun facts I could find.
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KitKat & KitKat Chunky
What chocolate covered wafer bar was originally called Rowntree’s Chocolate Crisp when it was first introduced in 1935? No idea. OK, another clue. It has two or four individual finger bars, each made up of three layers and each coated by layers of usually milk chocolate.
Oh and it comes wrapped in silver foil. Yes, Kit Kat, of course!Sold in a blue wrapper during the second world war, the familiar red packaging came into being in 1947. Early advertising proclaimed Kit Kat as ‘the biggest little meal’ and something to enjoy with a cup of tea.
The famous advertising slogan ‘Have a break; have a Kit Kat’ dates from the late 1950s. This theme was the plot of a popular TV ad from the late 1980s where a zoo photographer takes a break to have a Kit Kat and misses seeing pandas performing a dance routine.Kit Kat Chunky hit the shelves in 1999 and you may have also tasted Kit Kat Orange.
A more recent variety features ruby cocoa beans and comes in a pink wrapper. In Japan, Nestle have introduced over 200 variations alone since 2000 such as matcha and soy sauce.Back in the UK, you can bet that up and down the countrythere are thousands of workerssettling back for a cuppa and breaking into a Kit Kat whatever its flavour.
Fudge
Cadbury Fudge is a brand of chocolate bar that is known for its soft, creamy fudge center that is coated in a layer of milk chocolate.
The bar is manufactured by Cadbury, a British chocolate company that is owned by Mondelez International. Cadbury Fudge is available in a variety of different sizes, including small bite-size bars and larger bars. The bar is sold in countries such as the United Kingdom and Ireland and it’s less know in the USA. The standard Fudge bar contains 98 calories.
Mars Bar
‘A Mars a day helps you work, rest and play’. That was the hook line of the TV ad for Mars in the 1970’s and 1980’s and it’s one many well know chocolate advertisment slogans. It featured an array of bronzed beached torsos enjoying the sun whileand playing beach volleyballand then splashing in the sea to go surfing.More like California than Cromer.
As a recipe for keeping the doctor away, it’s more appealing than eating an apple – but probably a calling card for a visit to the dentist. And yet, ironically, the Uk version of the Mars Bar has always been more popular than its American equivalent. It’s a case of one name, two people and two recipes.
A recipe for success in the UK, but not necessarily across the Pond. So what are the differences between the two bars and why are the stars, or should that be planets, not aligned in the same confectionary solar system?
The Mars bar we eat in the UK is made with milk, caramel, chocolate and nougat. Whereas, for consumers in the US, the ingredients don’t include caramel which is replaced by toasted almonds and the nougat is covered in milk chocolate.
In the US, the Mars bar is often compared to Snickers and the UK version is more akin to Milky Way, although more substantial and filling in texture.‘Like Father, Like Son’ goes the popular saying. But what happens in a business when the Father and Son don’t get on? In the case of the Mars family, the son moves to the UK, Slough to be precise, and makes his own chocolate bar, based initially on his father’s Milky Way creation, first invented a decade earlier in the 1920’s.
It’s a good job Sir John Betjeman’s friendly bombs didn’t fall on Slough, because Mars bar production has continued interrupted there since 1932, enjoyed by millions, although probably not at the beach.In the heady world of nostalgia everything seems bigger and better.
I’ll leave others to decide if Mars tastes better than before (the company claims to have reduced the level of saturated fats without changing the taste). But if you remember the Mars bar you ate as a kid as bigger, then your memory is definitely not deceiving you. Between 2008 and 2013, the company, which is still family owned, reduced its size by 20%.
This didn’t affect it’s share of the market and the distinctive black wrapper and red encased font is as popular now as when Frank C Mars gave the bar the family name nearly eighty years ago.
Curly Wurly
I always thought Curly Wurly is a such a fun name for a chocolate bar! Curly Wurly is manufactured by Cadbury (British multinational confectionery company) and it’s basically a chewy caramel inside covered in milk chocolate.
Curly Wurly was first introduced in the United Kingdom in 1970 and was marketed as a fun and playful snack that was perfect for kids. The bar’s unique shape, which resembles three flattened, intertwined serpentine strings, was designed by David John Parfitt, a research confectioner based at the Cadbury Bournville factory.
Toblerone
Ask anyone what the Swiss are famous for, and the chances are that chocolate is going to be right up there with making cuckoo clocks, banks, mountains and being neutral. Lindt’s development of the conching process, revolutionised the making of chocolate truffles and solid milk chocolate came about through Nestle’s ground breaking production of condensed milk.
Probably the most famous Swiss confectionery bar is Toblerone. Its iconic series of joined up triangular shapes neatly combines the country’s expertise in making exquisite chocolate and love of climbing alpine peaks. First made in 1908 and still produced in the Swiss capital of Bern, we have Theodor Tobler and his cousin Emil Baumann to thank for this distinctive towering addition to the chocolate landscape.
I’m not sure if it was ever going to be called the Baumann bar, but coated in honey and almond nougat, Toblerone still stands out in both size and shape. In fact, the name appears to be a clever combination of Tobler’s surname with the Italian word torrone – which describes a southern european nougat confection made from honey, sugar and eggs with toasted almonds.
Opening of the triangular pieces is an art in itself. It can be as hard as break open as one of the legendary Swiss vaults but once cracked the rewards as well worth it.
The uncompromising milk chocolate exterior gives way to a soft and sweet centre which literally does melt in the mouth – like a glacier ice patch in summer.The Swiss may have a reputation for neutrality but the decision to change the content of Toblerone left very few people on the fence.
In 2016 two peaks were removed and larger gaps were introduced between each peak, in two of the bars in the United Kingdom, to cut the weight of the bars and reduce costs, while retaining the same package size.
A case of global warming perhaps or erosion, perhaps?Or just the usual measure to respond to rising costs? Either way, there was an avalanche of protest.Despite changes in its size, a Toblerone is still likely to stand and stick out of any children’s Christmas chocolate stocking.
Rolo
Rolo is a chocolate bar filled with caramel. The Rolo chocolate bar was originally developed by Mackintosh’s, a confectionery company based in England, which was later named Rowntree-Mackintosh. Rolo was launched in the United Kingdom in 1937.
In 1969, Rowntree-Mackintosh merged with another British confectionery brand, Rowntree, to form Rowntree Mackintosh Confectionery. The company was later acquired by Nestle in 1988. In the United States, the New England Confectionery Company acquired a license to produce Rolos in 1956.
Cadbury Flake
Cadbury Flake is a brand of chocolate bar that is known for its delicate, crumbly texture. It is produced by the British chocolate company Cadbury, which is owned by Mondelez International.
The process for making Cadbury Flake is a closely guarded secret, which no other chocolate manufacturer has ever managed to recreate.
The bar is made of thinly folded milk chocolate and has a unique texture that softens but does not melt when heated. Cadbury Flake is available in a variety of formats, including standard size bars and multipacks.
Double Decker
Double Decker is manufactured by Cadbury, a British chocolate company that is owned by Mondelez International. The bar consists of a mixture of milk chocolate, nougat, and crisp, crunchy cereal.
It was first introduced in the UK in 1976, and its name derives from the well-known double-decker bus, with the buses themselves sometimes appearing in advertisem*nts for the product.
Double Decker is available in a variety of formats, including standard size bars, multipacks, and sharing bags. Each bar contains 250 calories, 9 grams of fat, 4.7 grams of saturated fat, 30 grams of sugar, and 0.10 grams of salt.
In the mid 1970’s, Cadburys had the clever idea of naming a new chocolate bar after the iconic red British Double Decker buses. However, the bar itself was never red, and currently, in the UK has blue overlay on orange colouring.
In keeping with the name, it consists of a light nougat milk chocolate topping with a lower cereal based crispy filling. At one stage it even contained raisins but marketing surveys indicated that consumers wanted to get their raisins elsewhere and so they were dropped.
Another short livedingredient was nuts.I would describe it as a great chewy, crispy, cereal combination – a must for the comfort eater – but don’t try it for breakfast.
Wispa & Whispa Mint & Wispa Gold
Wispa is manufactured by Cadbury, a British chocolate company that is owned by Mondelez International. The bar consists of aerated milk chocolate that is covered in a layer of smooth Cadbury milk chocolate. The traditional Wispa bar is made with milk chocolate and there is also mint version – Whispa Mint.
Wispa was first launched in the United Kingdom in 1981 as a trial version in the North East of England, and it was later introduced nationally in 1983. The bar is often compared to Rowntree’s Aero, which is now owned by Nestle.
Time Out & Time Out Orange
Time Out is manufactured by Cadbury, a British chocolate company that is owned by Mondelez International. The bar consists of two crispy wafers with a ripple of milk chocolate in between, all covered in a layer of Cadbury milk chocolate.
Time Out was first introduced in the United Kingdom and Ireland in 1992, followed by Australia and New Zealand in 1995. The bar is often sold in pairs and is marketed as a “time out” snack. Time Out is available in a variety of formats, including standard size bars, multipacks, and sharing bags.
Twix
Are you be-twixted? It’s not actually, (to my knowledge) a tag line for advertising Twix chocolate bar, but perhaps it should be! With a biscuit base coated with caramel and typically milk chocolate, Twix first appeared in the UK in 1967.
In many European countries it went under the name Raider for many years. In the US, where it was launched in the late 1970’s, there have been many additional flavours, such as Peanut Butter. Twix Java with coffee flavoured caramel, expresso and milk chocolate sounds appealing with a caffeine infusion of any sort.
Across the globe, Twix has also featured milk dark and white chocolate versions as well as orange. There’s even been a Twix with mint flavoured caramel.It’s definitely one of my favourites, perhaps because of the extra layer of chocolate between the biscuit and the caramel that gives Twix it’s satisfying feel good taste and makes the chewing all the more rewarding.
Another sign that Twix is enjoyed the world over, comes from cultural references to the bar in episodes of Seinfeld and most recently, Orange is the New Black.Get your fix and don’t be be-twixted!
Galaxy
Galaxy is milk chocolate bar that is manufactured by Mars, Incorporated, an American multinational confectionery company. The brand was first introduced in the United Kingdom in 1960 by the company’s British subsidiary, Mars Limited. The chocolate was initially marketed as a “smooth milk chocolate” and was sold in a distinctive, curved bar shape.
The brand was later expanded to include a variety of flavours, such as Caramel, Double Chocolate, Excellence Dark, Cookie Crumble, and Ripple. In some countries, including the United States, the chocolate is marketed under the name Dove, which is another brand owned by Mars, Incorporated. Galaxy is known for its creamy, smooth texture and is widely popular in the United Kingdom and other countries around the world.
Bournville
Bournville is dark chocolate bar that is produced by Cadbury, a British chocolate company that is owned by Mondelez International. The brand is named after the Bournville area of Birmingham, England, where the Cadbury factory is located.
Bournville chocolate was first introduced in 1908, and it was marketed as a high-quality, “plain” chocolate bar that was made with a high percentage of cocoa solids. The bar was initially sold in a distinctive purple wrapper with a gold seal, which has become an iconic symbol of the brand. Bournville chocolate is known for its rich, intense flavour and is often used in baking recipes. The brand has since expanded to include a variety of flavours, such as Bournville Old Jamaica, which is infused with rum and raisins.
Topic
Another chocolate bar also from the Mars family and also with a nutty flavour is Topic. It’s probably one of their lesser known brands. But I remember it from the tv ad with the line ‘Topic – a hazelnut in every bite’. It was first introduced in the early 1970′s and has a reddish orange wrapper.
Inside the letter ‘O’ there’s a hazelnut with a green leaf. Give it a try and take a bite to see if the advertising claims still hold true!
Caramac
Caramac is a brand of caramel-flavoured chocolate bar that is manufactured by Nestle, a Swiss multinational food and beverage company.
The bar has a smooth, creamy caramel-flavored center that is made with condensed milk, glucose syrup, and vegetable oil, and is coated in a layer of chocolate.
Caramac was first introduced in the United Kingdom in 1950s (1959 respectively) by Mackintosh’s, which was later acquired by Nestle. The bar is known for its unique flavour and is often used in baking recipes, such as Caramac Millionaire’s Shortbread and Caramac Fudge.
Wonka
Wonka Chocolate is a brand of chocolate that is named after the fictional character Willy Wonka, who is the eccentric owner of a magical chocolate factory in the novel “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” by Roald Dahl.
The Wonka brand was originally created by the Quaker Oats Company in the 1970s to promote a candy bar tie-in with the release of the film adaptation of the book. The Wonka brand is now owned by Nestle and includes a variety of chocolate products, such as the Wonka Bar, which contains white chocolate swirled with milk chocolate, and the Wonka Domed Dark Chocolate Bar, which is made of dark chocolate topped with milk chocolate medallions. The brand is known for its whimsical and imaginative packaging, as well as its unique flavour combinations.
Mr Big
Mr. Big is produced by Cadbury, a British chocolate company that is owned by Mondelez International. The bar consists of a layered vanilla wafer that is coated in caramel, peanuts, and rice crisps, and is covered in a layer of Cadbury milk chocolate. Mr. Big was first introduced in Canada in 1977 by William Neilson Limited, which was later acquired by Cadbury.
The bar was originally owned by Nestle and licensed by William Neilson, which created a situation where the trademark of one of Neilson’s largest brands was owned by its largest competitor. Neilson later bought the rights to the name Mr. Big to make his own confectionery. The bar’s name is taken from it’s large size, which is around 20 centimeters (8 inches) long and the length of two “standard” sized bars.
Picnic
Who says a chocolate bar has to be sleek and glossy with a smooth, even texture? Picnic Bar is lumpy and when I first bought a bar I was disappointed as I thought someone had squashed it. Peanuts, puffed rice and even raisins are added to a biscuit base and covering in chewy nougat with caramel and milk chocolate.
Made by Cadburys, Picnic has proved popular since 1958. Various advertising campaigns have focused on its unconventional, uneven shape, calling it ‘Deliciously ugly’. In appearance it does look like something a child might bring home from school after a cooking lesson. But that’s part of the appeal.
A mass of chocolate is a feast for the eyes and the stomach alike – something to be eagerly eaten in one go; not savoured slowly in small pieces.Making Picnic bars is not likely to feature on the national curriculum, but definitely a chocolate bar for everyone and all occasions – not just picnics.
Dairy Milk
Whilst ‘Dairy Milk’ sound like a description, it’s actually a brand name for Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate bar. The bar was first introduced in the United Kingdom in 1905 and was created by George Cadbury Jr, who was given the challenge of developing a milk chocolate bar with more milk than anything else on the market. The result was Cadbury Dairy Milk, which contained a higher proportion of milk than previous chocolate bars and quickly became the market leader in the UK after its launch. By 1914, Dairy Milk was the company’s best-selling chocolate bar.
Over the years, the recipe for Dairy Milk has been updated to include more natural ingredients and to reduce the amount of sugar in the bar.
In the 1920s, Cadbury Dairy Milk was introduced in other countries around the world, such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In the 1950s, Dairy Milk became one of the first chocolate bars to be advertised on television in the UK, with the famous slogan “a glass and a half of milk in every half pound” emphasizing the bar’s high milk content.
Over the years, Cadburries started to introduce different flavours of Dairy Milk chocolate bar, often using their other chocolate bars such as Crunchie or Daim as a flavour. Other flavours include: Dairy Milk Caramel, Dairy Milk Fruit & Nut, Dairy Milk Oreo, Dairy Milk Mint Oreo, Dairy Milk Orange, Dairy Milk Hazelnut, Dairy Milk Chopped Nut, Dairy Milk Tripple Chocolate and many more.
Snickers
It was know as Marathon in the UK and Ireland until 1990. It consists of nougat and caramel covered in milk chocolate. Bite into a bar and you’ll be sure to crunch into a sticky mass of peanuts. Yes, its Snickers.
British chocolate fans like myself might be surprised to learn that when the Mars corporation changed the UK name to Snickers, they were just reverting back to the name the bar is known by in the United States. Indeed, the name itself is reputed to derive from that of the favourite horse of the Mars family.
Snickers was first introduced to the American market as far back as 1930. In the 1980’s tv adverts for the bar in both the UK and the US, featured an open hand full of peanuts which would then open and close rapidly and change into a Snickers/Marathon bar.
Do you find Snickers satisfying? The people interviewed in the tv ad did! ‘Snickers really Satisfies’ was one of the commercial slogans as was ‘Packed with Peanuts’. I certainly liked the taste but usually needed a drink soon afterwards perhaps because of the salt from all those peanuts!
I can recall my mum back in the late 1970’s cutting a Marathon bar into three pieces for my brother, sister and myself to share after Sunday lunch. We used to compare sizes to see who had got the biggest slice and the most peanuts.
Kinder Bueno & Kinder Bueno White
Kinder Bueno is produced by Ferrero, an Italian confectionery manufacturer. The bar was first introduced in Italy in 1990 by Michele Ferrero, the founder of Ferrero. Ferrero created Kinder Bueno as a more sophisticated and refined chocolate bar that would appeal to adults rather than just children.
The bar consists of a crispy wafer shell that is filled with a creamy hazelnut filling and covered in a layer of milk chocolate. Kinder Bueno was initially launched in Italy and Germany, and it was later introduced in other countries around the world. The bar has since become one of Ferrero’s most popular products and is widely recognized for its unique texture and flavour.
Fry’s Turkish Delight
It’s not just a delight, it’s Fry’s Turkish Delight. Not only that ‘it’s Full of Eastern Promise’ or so the tv advert goes.
Whatever the individual claims, Fry’s can truly claim to have a long and rich chocolate history, pioneering several ground breaking and cocoa grinding techniques along the way.Founded by Joseph Fry, a Quaker, in the mid 18th century, the Bristol based, the company made the first solid chocolate bar in 1847.
Not long after came the first filled chocolate sweet in 1853 and then in 1866, Fry’s Chocolate Cream launched mass produced chocolate bars into the British market. Confectionary shelves and shops the world over have never been quite the same again.
Fry’s Turkish Bar (later renamed Turkish Delight) first appeared in 1914 making it one of the oldest chocolate bars to be in continuous production.The year 1914, of course, marked the start of the First World War, during which Britain was at war with the Turkish Ottoman Empire.
I wonder how that went down with the troops? I’ve no idea if Lawrence of Arabia enjoyed a bite of Turkish Delight or two in his tent in the middle of the Arabian desert during his war time campaigns. Fry’s merged with Cadbury’s in 1919 but the name has continued to appear on bars ever since and the current wrapper is a shade of pink and purple in colour in the UK with a light yellow star above the name.
The actual Turkish Delight is rose flavoured fondant surrounded by milk chocolate. A perennial favourite. And guaranteed to get a reaction from children, one way or another, tasting the sticky glucose syrup mixture inside for the first time. It can be also successfully used to flavour other sweet dishes and puddings if you need a rose water substitution for your baking or sweet making like in my cream fondant recipe.
Starbar
Starbar is a brand of chocolate bar that is manufactured by Cadbury, a British multinational confectionery company.
The bar consists of a layer of roasted peanuts and caramel that is covered in milk chocolate.
Starbar was first introduced in the United Kingdom in 1976 and was marketed as a satisfying snack that was perfect to pick up on the go.
The bar was later introduced in other countries around the world, such as Canada and Germany, where it is known by different names, such as Wunderbar. Over the years, the recipe for Starbar has remained largely unchanged, although the packaging has been updated to include more modern designs.
The current slogan for Starbar is “Get Some Nuts!” However, Starbar has had several different slogans over the years, including “The Munchiest Bar Ever!”, “Starbar – the bar with peanut power”, and “Starbar – go nuts with Cadbury”.
Crunchie
What day of the week are you reading this blog? There’s a one in seven chance it will be a Friday. In which case ‘Get that Friday Feeling’ and have a Crunchie Bar. First mentioned in the 1935 children’s book ‘National Velvet’, Crunchie came out in 1929, manufactured by Frys.
The honeycomb toffee centre is cut up using jet of oil which create sharp, jagged edges which are then covered in milk chocolate and cooled.In the UK, Cadburys, the current maker and Britvic, combined to make a limited edition Crunchie Tango.
Have you tasted Mint, White Chocolate or Champagne flavoured Crunchie? Or perhaps Crunchie Blast with it’s popping candy filling?I’ve always found the honeycomb toffee to really stick in my teeth, no matter how much chocolate it’s coated in. So, I guess I’ll have to get myFriday Feelingsome other way.
Daim
Daim is manufactured by Mondelez International, a multinational confectionery company. The bar consists of a crunchy almond caramel centre that is covered in a layer of milk chocolate.
Daim was first introduced in Sweden in the 1950s by Marabou, a Swedish chocolate company that was later acquired by Kraft Foods. The bar was originally called Dajm in Sweden, and it was later renamed Dime in the United Kingdom. In 2005, the bar was rebranded as Daim in the UK and other countries around the world. Daim is now sold in over 40 countries and is known for its unique texture and flavour.
Bounty
A taste of paradise? Yes, we’re talking about Bounty. Remember the tv advert asking if you are a Bounty Hunter?Moist tender coconut covered in rich dark chocolate. But it wasn’t always that way.
Initially, when Bounty was first introduced in 1951, it was only available in milk chocolate. The milk chocolate bar comes in a coral blue wrapper, while dark chocolate is in a red wrapper. Made by Mars, over the years, there seem to have been limited editions featuring other tropical ingredients.
Such as cherry, in Australia, mango in parts of Europe and even pineapple in Russia.Remember the scene in the tv comedy Gavin & Stacey when Ness is handing out mini chocolate bars to started guests as Christmas presents? ‘Bad luck you got the Bounty!’ as if it’s the booby prize.
TV chef Nigella Lawson probably wouldn’t think so because she included a recipe for a deep fried Bounty bar in one of her cook books. I have to confess that Bounty (dark chocolate) is one of my favourites. I can chew away on the strands of coconut for ages extracting every ounce of moisture from a single strand. So Ness can give me a Bounty Bar any time and not just on Christmas day!
Aero & Aero Mint
Aero Mint Chocolate is a type of chocolate bar that is known for its light, bubbly texture and refreshing mint flavor. It is manufactured by Nestle and is a variation of the original Aero chocolate bar, which was first introduced in 1935.
The Aero Mint Chocolate bar consists of a mint-flavored filling that is full of tiny air bubbles, and is coated in a thick layer of creamy milk chocolate. Aero Mint Chocolate is available in a variety of formats, including standard size bars, multipacks, and sharing bags.
Known for it’s distinctive bubbly texture, Aero was originally made in 1935 by Rowntrees of York in the UK.Bite into a bar and you’ll see thousands of tiny air bubbles which then gently collapse and melt as you suck the chocolate.
As far as I understand it, the ingenious technique involves allowing air pressure into the heated chocolate and then releasing it from the firm chocolate shells, creating pockets of chocolate bubbles inside.
Little wonder one of Aero’s trademarks is the line ‘Feel the Bubbles Melt’. The top of each section has the Aero name on it with an exploding series of bubbles of various sizes being released from the last letter of the name. Oh, Oh, Aero!
Over the years, various advertising campaigns have focused on the bar’s aerated qualities with links to flying or being lifted away with an Aero. The bubbly bar has also been eaten while in a bath – full of bubbles, of course.
Apart from the traditional flavours, there is also Aero Snow, Aero Honeycomb, Aero Chunky, Aero Cappuccino.
Although successful worldwide, Aero doesn’t seem to have appealed to the American market quite as much. Any ideas why?I have to confess that as a kid, Aero was one of my least favourite chocolate bars. It never felt or seemed substantial enough for me.
However, having just tasted a Peppermint flavoured bar, purely in the interests of research, I could be persuaded to change my mind. Just as well, because of all chocolate, Aero lends itself perfectly to desserts, hot chocolate drinks and ice creams. More research is required, I think!
Yorkie
Yorkie bar is manufactured by Nestle, a Swiss multinational food and beverage company. The bar was originally marketed as a “man’s chocolate” when it was first introduced in the United Kingdom in 1976 by Rowntree’s, a British confectionery company that was later acquired by Nestle.
Yorkie bar was created by Eric Nicoli, who noticed a gap in the market for a chocolate bar that was marketed specifically towards men. The name “Yorkie” was chosen because the bar was originally made at the Rowntree’s factory in York, England. Yorkie is known for its distinctive yellow packaging and has since expanded to include a variety of flavours, such as Yorkie Raisin and Biscuit, Yorkie Nut or Yorkie Honeycomb.
Lion
Lion bar is manufactured by Nestle, a Swiss multinational food and beverage company. The bar consists of a crispy wafer filled with caramel and cereal, and is covered in a layer of milk chocolate.
Lion was first introduced in the United Kingdom in 1976 by Rowntree’s, a British confectionery company that was later acquired by Nestle. The bar was created as a snack that was designed to give consumers a “roaring hunger” and was marketed with the slogan “A Lion’s appetite”. The name “Lion” was chosen to reflect the bar’s association with strength and power.
In 1988, production of Lion bars was moved to a Nestle factory in Dijon, France and is sold worldwide.
Dubble
Dubble bar (not to be confused with Dubble Decker Bar) is manufactured by Divine Chocolate, a British chocolate company that is co-owned by cocoa farmers in Ghana.
The bar is made with smooth milk chocolate that is infused with crispy rice pieces for added texture.
Dubble is fairly new addition to the list of chocolate bars, as it was first introduced in the United Kingdom in 2000. It was created as a fairly traded chocolate bar that would appeal to young people. The bar was marketed with the slogan “Serious chocolate, serious fun” and was sold with a collectible wrapper that featured designs created by young people.
In 2006, Divine Chocolate acquired the Dubble brand and began producing the bar using Fairtrade certified cocoa.
Milky Way
Milky Way is manufactured and marketed by Mars, Incorporated, an American multinational confectionery company. The bar has a light, fluffy nougat centre that is topped with a layer of caramel and covered in a layer of milk chocolate.
There are two varieties of Milky Way bars: the US Milky Way bar, which is sold as the Mars bar worldwide, including Canada, and the global Milky Way bar, which is sold as the 3 Musketeers in the US and Canada.
The global version of Milky Way has a slightly different recipe than the US version and does not contain caramel. Milky Way bars were first introduced in the United States in 1923 by the Mars company and have since become a popular chocolate bar around the world, including UK.
Fry’s Chocolate Cream
Fry’s Chocolate Cream is currently manufactured by Cadbury, a British multinational confectionery company. The bar was first introduced in 1866 by J.S. Fry & Sons, a British chocolate company that was later acquired by Cadbury.
Fry’s Chocolate Cream is known for being the first mass-produced chocolate bar and is the oldest chocolate bar brand in the world. The bar consists of a smooth, fondant centre that is enrobed in a layer of plain chocolate.
Toffee Crisp
Toffee Crisp is currently manufactured by Nestle, a Swiss multinational food and beverage company. The bar has of a crispy cereal and toffee centre that is covered in a layer of milk chocolate.
Toffee Crisp was first introduced in the United Kingdom in 1963 by Mackintosh’s, a British confectionery company that was later acquired by Nestle. The bar was marketed as a “crunchy munchy” snack that was designed to appeal to young people.
In some countries, Toffee Crisp is marketed under the name “Nestle Crunch” or “Crunch” and may have a slightly different recipe.
Milkybar
Milkybar is a brand of white chocolate that is produced by Nestle, a Swiss multinational food and beverage company.
The bar was first introduced in the United Kingdom in 1936 and was originally marketed as a “healthier” alternative to traditional milk chocolate bars, as it was made with milk powder instead of cocoa solids.
The bar was initially known as “Milky” and was later renamed “Milkybar” in 1937. Milkybar was later introduced in other countries around the world, where it is known by different names, such as Galak in Continental Europe and Latin America.
Over the years, the recipe for Milkybar has been updated to include more natural ingredients and to reduce the amount of sugar in the bar. Today, Milkybar is one of the most popular white chocolate brands in the world and is known for its creamy texture and rich, milky flavour.
The current slogan for Milkybar is “The simple taste of childhood”. However, Milkybar has had several different slogans over the years, including “The milky bar kid is strong and tough”, “Milkybar – the creamy taste that’s out of this world”, and “Milkybar – the milky bar kid is good and honest, and never forgets his friends”
Twirl
Twirl is manufactured by Cadbury and was first introduced in Ireland in 1984 and launched in the UK in 1986.
The bar quickly became popular for its unique texture and creamy, chocolatey taste. The bar consists of two intertwined finger-shaped bars of flaky, aerated milk chocolate that are covered in smooth milk chocolate.
Over the years, Twirl has become one of Cadbury’s most popular chocolate bars and is now available in many different countries around the world. In addition to the classic milk chocolate flavour, Twirl has also been introduced in other flavours, such as orange and mint.
Twirl is known for its light and flaky texture, which is achieved through a unique manufacturing process that involves aerating the chocolate during production. This process creates small pockets of air in the chocolate, which gives it its distinctive texture and makes it melt in the mouth.
Aztec 2000
I couldn’t help but to mention a chocolate bar, that sadly doesn’t exist anymore. Aztec 2000 was a chocolate bar that was briefly produced by Cadbury in the year 2000. It was a revival of the original Aztec chocolate bar that was produced by Cadbury from 1967 to 1978.
The Aztec 2000 bar had a similar recipe to the original Aztec bar, consisting of nougat and caramel covered in milk chocolate. However, the packaging was updated to include a more modern design and the bar was marketed as a limited edition product. Aztec 2000 was only produced for a short period of time and was later discontinued by Cadbury.
Chomp
Chomp is produced by Cadbury, a British multinational confectionery company. The bar has a layer of caramel that is coated in milk chocolate.
Chomp was first introduced in the United Kingdom in the 1970s and was marketed as a budget-friendly chocolate bar that was designed to appeal to children. The bar is known for its small size and affordability and is often sold in multi-packs.
Fuse
Fuse is a brand of chocolate bar that was produced by Cadbury in the United Kingdom from 1996 to 2006. The bar consisted of a blend of milk chocolate, peanuts, raisins, crisp cereal, and fudge pieces.
Fuse was created as a response to market research that showed consumers were looking for a chocolate bar with a more complex texture and flavour profile.
The bar was an instant success and became the top-selling confectionery product in the UK within two months of its launch. However, in 2006, Cadbury discontinued Fuse due to declining sales and a shift in consumer preferences towards healthier snack options. Despite being discontinued, Fuse remains a popular chocolate bar among fans who have campaigned for its return over the years.
Drifter
Drifter was a chocolate bar that was first introduced in the United Kingdom in 1980 by Rowntree’s, a British confectionery company that was later acquired by Nestle, a Swiss multinational food and beverage company.
The bar had a wafer biscuit topped with a layer of caramel and covered in milk chocolate. Drifter bars were known for their unique texture and flavour and were marketed as a satisfying snack that was perfect for the on-the-go.
Nestle later took over production of Drifter bars following their acquisition of Rowntree’s in 1988. However, in 2006, Nestle discontinued Drifter bars due to declining sales.
Bitz
Another chocolate bar name for the ‘discontinued chocolate bars’ quiz. Bitz was a brand of chocolate bar that was produced by Terry’s, a British chocolate company that was later acquired by Kraft Foods.
The bar consisted of milk chocolate that was studded with small pieces of flavoured sugar crisp “Bitz”. Bitz bars were available in a variety of flavours, such as mint and orange, and were known for their crispy texture and unique flavour combinations.
Bitz bars were first introduced in the United Kingdom in the 1990s and were later discontinued by Kraft Foods in the early 2000s.
Snowflake
Snowflake was a brand of chocolate bar that was produced by Cadbury, a British multinational confectionery company. The bar consisted of a crumbly flaked white chocolate center that was covered in smooth milk chocolate.
Snowflake was first introduced in the United Kingdom in 2000 and was marketed as a unique twist on the classic Cadbury Flake bar. The bar was later renamed “Flake Snow” in 2003, but was discontinued by Cadbury in 2008 due to declining sales.
Despite being discontinued, Snowflake remains a popular chocolate bar among fans who remember the unique taste and texture of the bar. In fact, a petition was created in 2018 by a fan of the bar, calling for Cadbury to bring back Snowflake, which had over 3,000 signatures.
More popular chocolate snack bars in the UK
There are many more chocolate snack bars that are popular in the UK, so I though I’d at least include them as a list. I’m sure there are others, as new chocolate bars are introduced all the time. Every time I’m in the shop I’ll look out for more and update this never-ending chocolate bar list!
- Excellence Milk
- Chocolate Orange Bar
- Thorntons Orange Jazz
- Thorntons Fudge Blues
- Nuts About Caramel– discontinued
- Whole Nut
- Chocolate Cream
- Milky Lunch
- Nuts About Caramel Double Chocolate
- Peppermint Cream
- Milk Chocolate Honeycomb
- Caramel Whip
- Cadbury Dairy Milk Freddo Bar
This blog post was originally written on 10 July 2019 and last updated on 19 April 2023
