First Snifters, now Le Snaks? Classic Kiwi snacks they should bring back to life

Remember these bad boys?

In 2022, Kiwis were hit hard by the news that iconic lunchbox item Le Snak was being discontinued.

It had been filling children’s and adults’ lunchboxes for 30 years, but Bluebird revealed the reason for ending the Kiwi classic was due to a decline in sales as “consumers’ taste preferences have changed”.

Months later, the news was still triggering for some, including Kiwi internet sensation Tavlova who declared it was “another snack taken too soon”.

But it’s not the first time a classic has been taken away from angry Kiwis.

In 2021, Kiwis were hit with the news many of us weren’t prepared for - the beloved snack Pods were discontinued.

It led to a petition to bring them back which has just 7600 signatures.

From the 1950s through to the late 2000s we’ve been lucky to have been treated to a range of unique yet delicious chips and lollies.

But sleepovers just aren’t the same without the likes of Tangy Fruits, Snifters or CCs (corn ships).

In honour of the fallen Le Snaks, here’s a roundup of classic Kiwiana snacks that should be brought back from extinction to help our tastebuds heal from our latest loss.

CHILL LOLLY SCRAMBLE ICECREAM

Who remembers this icecream with the delicious lolly scramble inside?

These bad boys were the saviour on any hot summer’s day when you wanted to buy both icecream and lollies, but only had the money for one.

Luckily this came with both in the one tub and the fizzy lollies inside were an ultimate favourite.

Tip Top, it's time to bring these back!

YUM BARS

Simply the best. Better than all the rest.

When it comes to muffin bars, this Ernest Adams treat was hands-down the tastiest item to get in your lunch box.

Yum Bars were moist and filled with a yummy creamy caramel centre.

These were often used in the playground as a bargaining chip or a way to make a quick couple of dollars if you had snuck another one in your lunchbox.

"Bro, I'll let you be the king in handball if you give me your Yum Bar?" many kids across New Zealand were heard begging just so they could get a taste of Yum.

Simply the best, better than all the rest.

TANGY FRUITS

Tangy Fruits were small edible fruit flavoured round candies, often sold in New Zealand at movie theatres. Photo / Twitter

Tangy Fruits were small, round, fruit-flavoured candies, often sold at movie theatres.

They were damn tasty but often used to throw at friends during your outing at the movies.

Tangy Fruits rarely lasted a whole film and were considered perfect for the movies since there was no disturbing rustling sound to worry about when one reached for a second helping.

Production ceased in 2008, again due to a lack of consumer demand.

Expats were furious with one person saying in 2009: "What! The end of Tangy Fruits? As an expat Kiwi what I am going to feed my kids when I come home? I'd like to be able to say 'this is what real lollies are like - not that rubbish you get in Australia'."

RIP the Tangy Fruit.

ROLL UPS

The standard procedure was to wrap them around your finger and race your friends to see who could finish theirs first.

If you didn't wrap these around your fingers and suck them dry, then are you even a legitimate Kiwi kid?

For years little rugrats around the country convinced their parents this "fruit-based" lunchbox item was "healthy".

Once the bell went for class it was a likely chance half the students came back with sticky fingers. But with good reason.

If you had one of these and a Yum Bar in your lunchbox, you were styling.

HUBBA BUBBA BUBBLE JUG

This was often a popular way to be able to share gum without having to give away a whole pirce of Hubba Bubba.

When buying Hubba Bubba from the packet was too boring, kids turned to the powdered alternative for their chewing gum fix.

Available in numerous flavours, watermelon and tropical fruit were often a big seller.

Rumours are a small number of dairies around the country still sell these.

If your friends were annoying scabs they'd line up asking for some of your finest Hubba Bubba powder so they wouldn't miss out.

WHISTLE LOLLIPOPS

The Whistle lollipops made a lot of noise!

Let's be honest, while they were reasonably tasty the main reason you got your hands on the Whistle was to annoy the crap out of your parents and friends.

This lollipop was designed in the shape of a whistle and boy did it make a lot of noise!

If you wanted the whistle to survive more than a few minutes the key was to eat it from the bottom up.

Apparently, some shops are still selling these but they're not as readily available as they were back in the 90s.

PARADISO ICECREAM

Perfect for a hot summer's day.

Who remembers this absolute gem of an icecream?

Paradiso was certainly a summertime favourite where the blend of the tropical sorbet outside mixed with the vanilla icecream inside was what dreams were made of.

The Paradiso was never cheap but it was what you begged your parents to buy when they said they'd shout the icecreams.

Tip Top should consider a limited-time only relaunch. Please!

CALIPPO SHOTS

The currency of the school playground.

For years I've been trying to remember the name of these "little lemon-lime balls of wow". Finally, it came to my head and ultimately made its way to the list what needs to be bought back to the masses.

These chewy balls of flavour were a "game-changer" according to a lot of Kiwis back in the day.

They were easy to share around so if you were happy to forgo a handful of Calippo you probably became the popular kid in school.

SNIFTERS

Just one of two ultimate movie snacks to go alongside the Tangy Fruits.

You couldn't go to the movies without a packet of Snifters.

These peppermint chocolate delights complimented the Tangy Fruits and were a staple of the Kiwi movie diet.

There have been calls for years for the Snifter to make a comeback but all attempts have failed.

It looks like it'll remain in our memories and hearts forever. RIP, the mighty snifter.

BIGUNS CHIPS

Biguns came in four different flavours and were a staple item on every kids' sleepover menu. Photo / Facebook

It wouldn't be a sleepover without a packet of Biguns!

The school lunch and sleepover favourite were available in four flavours including Cheese, Cheese and Bacon, Bar-b-q, and Tangy.

Local legend has it that Tangy was the most popular flavour before the Biguns brand disappeared from shelves.

In 2016 Bluebird did bring back cheese-flavoured Biguns for a limited time but again the Kiwi classic disappeared from all existence.

CCs CORN CHIPS

CCs corn chips were a staple in Kiwi kids' lunchboxes. Photo / Bluebird

In 2010 CCs corn chips were cut from supermarket shelves and replaced by a locally made version of the American brand Doritos.

Bluebird Foods, which makes the chips, was believed to have conducted blind taste tests in which Doritos proved more popular.

CCs had been a staple snack in lunchboxes around the country since the 80s and their extinction was met with fiery backlash.

"I, like many Kiwis, grew up with CCs, and to this day they remain my favourite snack food," a CCs fan told the Herald back in 2010.

"Kiwis wouldn't sit quiet if L&P were replaced by some inferior substitute, so why should we be forced to give up the chips we grew up with?

"If nobody speaks up now, what will we do when Marmite, pavlova or Watties' sauces are replaced with their American alternatives?"

SPARKLES

Two weathered packs of "vintage" orange Sparkles were auctioned on Trade Me back in 2016. Photo / Trade Me

Considered one of the "big three" along with Snifters and Tangy Fruits, Sparkles faced the chop in 2008 due to lack of consumer demand.

But that didn't stop Kiwis expressing their anger.

In 2016 a Trade Me user auctioned off two packets of orange Pascall Sparkles.

For what used to be the cheapest item at the local dairy, the bidding started at $10 per pack.

The black market of classic Kiwi candy has come to Trade Me in the past: In 2008, 20 packets of Sparkles were sold for over $50 each.