Bring it back

Following on from last weeks’ blog, which discussed the findings of a survey that set out to establish the UK’s favourite sweet treats – which included a number of well established and retro brands – I recently received an email detailing the campaign to ‘Bring back Banjo’, a chocolate bar that hasn’t been seen on our shelves since the 1980s.
According to Wikipedia, the original Banjo chocolate bar was sold in the Greater London area, but the product was discontinued in 1954. At that time, it was a chocolate wafer bar, with a chocolate filling, covered in milk chocolate and similar to Kit Kat.

Banjo was reintroduced with a television advertising campaign in 1976. This time around Banjo was a twin bar (similar in shape and size to twix) and was described as “the same as a Drifter but with a chopped peanut layer and the whole covered in milk chocolate”.

It was packaged in distinctive navy blue – with the brand name prominently displayed in yellow block text – and was apparently one of the first British snack bars to have a heat-sealed wrapper closure instead of the reverse side fold common to most domestically-produced chocolate bars at that time. It was available into the 1980s. There was also a coconut version also available in a red wrapper with yellow text.

In the UK in particular, we have welcomed many retro sweet and snack brands back into our lives over recent months. In fact retro treats continue to be a firm trend in the sector.

The person behind the campaign, who prefers to remain anonymous (“The campaign is about Banjo not me!”), says: “I loved Banjo as a kid and was gutted when it vanished mid 1980s. Mars, Slough used to make them.”

This committed Banjo lover has set up a Facebook Campaign called ‘Bring back Banjo chocolate bar’. There is also a petition at http://tinyurl.com/ofp5kpc and a YouTube video link at http://youtu.be/-U8KpA7Jlvo

“When I wrote to Mars a while back they did say if there was a demand for Banjo they would consider bringing it back,” says the anonymous Banjo fan. “With other brands bringing back old favourites like Burton’s Daily Fish ‘n’ Chips and Wall’s Funny Feet, I think Banjo would be popular for the old and new generation to enjoy once again as there isn’t a chocolate bar similar to it,” she adds.

Once the Facebook page reaches 5,000 likes or the online petition receives the same number of supporters, the campaign data will be forwarded to Mars. So, get involved. You can also show your support on Twitter – @Banjo_Chocolate.
And even if you’re not a Banjo fan, we’d love to know which of your favourite sweets and snacks you’d like to see back in circulation. You never know who might be listening…

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