One of the biggest disappointments in life is discovering that one of your favourite products has been discontinued, and breakfast cereals are no exception to this.
We all need a hearty breakfast to start the day, with many Liverpool families tucking into their favourite cereal every morning. Unfortunately, due to the extensive choice of cereals available in supermarkets and shops nowadays, companies have no choice but to stop producing products that no longer bring in enough money.
From healthy cereals to fun-shaped children’s options, households all have their favourites. We panic when the box runs out and immediately send one of the family to the shops to replace it.
Despite there often being similar alternatives when companies discontinue cereals, there are some we just can't let go of. The ECHO recently asked members of our Liverpool memories and history Facebook group which cereals they would love to see back on the shelves, with the top five listed below.
Ricicles
1980s and 90s children in particular will fondly remember Kellogg’s Ricicles. The sugary cereal remained a popular family cereal until it was discontinued in 2017 due to its sugar levels.
Ricicles were similar to Rice Krispies, but had a frosted sugar coating making them even more delicious. The cereal had numerous mascots, including Noddy, Henry’s Cat and astronaut Captain Rik.
In the 1990s, another variety of Ricicles was introduced which contained small marshmallow pieces. The new addition received backlash from many, so it disappeared a few years later leaving only the original cereal on the shelves.
Sugar Puffs
The original Sugar Puffs were loved by families for almost 60 years, but in 2014, they vanished from stores. The cereal was replaced by Honey Monster Wheat Puffs featuring a more modern-looking Honey Monster character.
The recipe also changed, with the new cereal having around 20% less sugar than the original. The new puffs have more honey in them to replace the sugar, making many of us miss the original flavour.
Start
Kellogg’s Start cereal arrived on the scene in the 1980s but was discontinued in 2018. Promoted as improving people’s performance in sports, the cereal was a favourite among many adults.
Start contained wheat, corn and oats, and since it disappeared from the shelves, there have been petitions to bring it back. One person states in a petition that the cereal was “nutritious and delicious”.
Banana Bubbles
If you were a 1990s child, you’re bound to remember Kellogg’s Banana Bubbles. The grains of rice had a rich banana flavour, making the milk taste like banana milkshake. For a time, the box contained Rugrats pencil toppers.
Fru-Grains
Mapleton’s Fru-Grains were manufactured right here in Liverpool. The fairly simple cereal contained fruit, oats and almonds, and could be bought in health food shops. Fru-Grains were particularly popular in the 1960s and 70s, and came in a round metal tin before switching to a cardboard box.
Which discontinued cereal would you like to see back on the shelves? Let us know in the comments section below.
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