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Confectionery brand Starburst has recently announced plans to relaunch under its original name, Opal Fruits, and Snickers looks set to make a comeback as Marathon. Which retro brand would you like to see make a comeback, and why?

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As a child I popped down to Fine Fare – with its ground-breaking yellow value range – for a box of Omo and a packet of Spangles for my trouble. Fine Fare then became International. Which became Gateway. Which became Somerfield. The loss of a retail brand is always a shame and takes years to wipe from everyday parlance. Morrisons in Cheltenham is still near the ‘Safeway roundabout’. But three cheers for change. Without it we wouldn’t be in business and reminiscing would be a thing of the past.
Guy Douglass, Managing director, FLB

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Consumers usually vote with their feet so we should not be upset at the demise of ‘crap’ brands like Ratners, nor brands well past their sell-by date such as Watneys Red Barrel, Datsun and New Labour. There’s a relativism issue here that we should also consider. From my end of the tube, Marathon will be making a welcome return, but from my kids’ end confusion will reign. Being selfish then, bring back Jif, Oil of Ulay and Spangles, and to hell with supply-chain efficiency and multilingual packs.
Adrian Collins, Managing director, Ziggurat Brands

Nostalgia is a funny thing – it makes you think fondly of the past and blot out the negative. My main recollection of Space Dust is enjoying that surprising sensation as the ‘dust’ fizzed and exploded in your mouth. I’ve erased any memory of downing a whole pack in one go and suffering a blinding headache. And I love the fact that today’s politically correct parents might ban their children from eating the stuff. I know it’s still available on the Web, but I want to reinstate it to its former glory when it was on sale in every high street sweet shop.
Vicky Bullen, Chief executive, Coley Porter Bell

For me it would have to be Fry’s Five Centre Cream bar. Each segment of the delicious crisp dark chocolate contained a different flavour – I can’t quite remember what the five flavours were now, but raspberry and orange definitely featured and everyone had their favourite. No company today would entertain such complexity in a product. Those were the days when a chocolate bar was deemed a treat, and before the accountants stripped the value out of everything.
Jill Marshall, Consultancy director, Bloom Design

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