YOU would be hard-pressed to find someone who hasn’t heard of a Wonka Bar – but can you still buy them?
The sweet treat is based on the signature product in Roald Dahl‘s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory from 1964.
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They’re pivotal elements of the book’s storyline, with the “golden ticket” that grants five lucky children the chance to visit Willy Wonka‘s factory is hidden inside the iconic chocolate bars.
Since the 60s there have been three different film adaptations of Dahl’s book.
Wonka Bars made their on-screen debut in 1971’s Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory with Gene Wilder.
They then received a new look and several new flavours in the second on-screen adaptation in 2005 starring Johnny Depp.
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The bars have once again returned to screens in 2023 in Timothee Chalamet‘s new film Wonka.
In a bid to capitalise on the first film’s success real-life Wonka Bars hit shelves in the US as a real consumer product sold by The Quaker Oats Company in 1971.
Since then there have been several incarnations of the treats, and the brand has had several owners too.
So, what happened to the iconic bars and can you still buy them today?
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What was the Wonka Bar by Nestle?
The original Wonka Bars were pulled from shelves because The Quaker Oats Company couldn’t get the recipe right and the chocolate kept melting.
Prayers were answered in 1988 when confectionary giant Nestle bought the Wonka brand.
It released its own Wonka Bars, along with a string of other Wonka candy products in the US.
Then in 2005, the bars hit the UK to coincide with the release of Jonny Depp’s new film.
The bars disappeared again for eight years before Nestle announced a relaunch in the UK in 2013 with all-new flavours and larger blocks too.
The Wonka bars cost 60p, while the 100g blocks cost £1.29.
The Millionaire’s Shortbread variation contained caramel and shortbread biscuit pieces,
While the Chocolate Nice Cream featured a vanilla crème and chocolate sauce.
The larger blocks also came in a third flavour called Crème Brulée, which contained vanilla crème topped with caramel crunch.
Why and when was the Wonka Bar discontinued?
Since Nestle bought the Wonka brand the chocolate bars have come and gone from shelves in both the UK and the US.
Just one year after their latest release, both the bars and blocks were once again discontinued in 2014.
Demand was strong, to begin with, and Nestle racked up sales of £3million a month in the first three months of the year.
But according to trade magazine The Grocer, they then took a tumble to around £1million.
Nestle said at the time that Wonka bars are a brand that “comes and goes” and added they are brought out of the covers now and then.
In a statement, it said: “Consumers love novelty and innovation in confectionery and this sits perfectly for a brand such as Wonka.
“Novelty is by its nature often short-term and Nestle has reintroduced the Wonka brand a number of times in the UK and Ireland over the years.”
What are some Wonka Bar alternatives?
Wonka bars are a hit amongst fans largely due to their weird and whacky flavours.
If you’re after an alternative though there are some to choose from.
Cadbury offers some pretty good options in its Marvellous Creations range.
The zany flavours include Jelly Popping Candy which costs £2 for a big 160g bar or 75p for a single one.
If you’re after a similar variation to the Millionaire’s Shortbread Wonka Bar you may want to try the Munchies Gooey Caramel and Biscuit Sharing Bar.
You’ll find it in Asda for just £1.25.
Tony’s Chocolonely also offers some decent alternatives.
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Why not give the Tony’s Chocolonely Milk Caramel Biscuit or Dark Milk Chocolate Pretzel Toffee bara a go?
You can pick them up in Sainsbury’s for just £3.
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