If there’s one thing guaranteed to get shoppers talking, it’s a nostalgic sweet treat.
At the beginning of summer, M&S delighted shoppers by putting four retro chocolate bars back on its shelves.
One customer was so overwhelmed by seeing his favourite childhood snack back in stores, he actually implored retailers to ‘stop this delicious madness’.
But, it turns out that more madness is on the horizon.
Eagle-eyed shoppers recently spotted one of Cadbury’s most beloved products in none other than variety store B&M.
First launched in the 90s, Astros quickly became a fan-favourite among chocoholics in the UK.Slightly similar to an M&M or smartie, Astros are bite-sized, colourful candy-coated chocolates featuring a crunchy biscuit centre and a smooth milk chocolate layer.
Officially discontinued in the UK in 2008, they’ve historically been exceedingly hard to get ahold of… until now.
Astros were initially released in South Africa in 1995, where they remain a popular staple.
But these days, they’re notoriously hard to find in the UK.
Your best bet is either to import them or get lucky hunting down a packet or two at a retro sweet shop or through a South African retailer online.
Which shop you choose will also influence how much you pay. At SA Groceries, you can buy a 40g box for £2.25. However, Hardyz Grocery Store lists the same sized box for just £1.65.
But with hefty postage fees and a delivery slot to wait for, Brits were understandably excited at the prospect of popping to their local shop to get a taste of their childhood.
Always first to spot a new product on store shelves, UKnewestfoods received a flurry of comments on its recent post about Astros’ return.
@Kathpickard exclaimed ‘All my faith in childhood has been restored!’ while @shnicky4ever added: ‘I literally mentioned these a couple of hours ago when I was talking about sweets I miss!’
Some users, occupied with other things, tagged friends and family members instructing them to head to the shops ‘immediately!’
@CherylThompson tagged her husband underneath one video, writing: ‘These were my favourite ever – I’m sending you to B&M.’
@libbiemayfitzpatrick Omg Cadbury astros in the UK 😍😱😱 #newin #fyp #libbiefitzpatrick #trending #newfinds
♬ original sound – locket4mads ⋆. 𐙚 ˚
On Facebook, some users have claimed Astros are a bit like ‘crispy M&Ms but better’, while @jrtyu has also made the rather bold statement that they are ‘much better than Smarties’.
As a die-hard Smarties girl, I find this hard to believe.
This isn’t the first time Astros has landed on B&M shelves. Back in July 2022, shoppers spotted the chocolate on sale for just £1 a box.
So, with online retailers charging a pretty penny for the chocolate, it might be worth rushing to the shops to stock up on this iconic treat before it disappears from shelves once more.
One word of warning, some users have shared that they weren’t able to find Astros in their local B&M. Two users based in Scotland, for example, went home empty-handed.
Will you be one of the chosen ones?