10 Discontinued Candy Bars That Defined Vending Machine History

Vending machines in office hallways, laundromats, and bus stations were once home to a diverse array of candy bars that have since faded into history [1]. While some of these treats disappeared due to corporate buyouts or shifting consumer tastes, others were victims of their own complex production processes or inability to withstand the heat of a vending machine [1].

Key takeaways

• The Marathon Bar, introduced in 1973, was famous for its eight-inch length and ruler-printed packaging [1].
• PB Max was a successful 1989 release that was discontinued despite claims that it moved millions of units monthly [1].
• The Seven Up bar featured seven distinct fillings, but the complex assembly process created significant production challenges [1].
• Many bars, such as Choco’Lite and Summit, struggled with structural integrity when stored in warm vending machines [1].

The Rise and Fall of Vintage Confections

The 1970s and 1980s served as a golden era for experimental candy bars, though many could not survive the practical demands of retail. The Marathon Bar, launched by Mars in 1973, became a cultural staple for its unique eight-inch braided caramel design, which was so tough that eating one could take an entire school break [1]. Similarly, the Reggie! Bar, named after baseball star Reggie Jackson, enjoyed a surge in popularity during the athlete's peak years, even prompting fans at Yankee Stadium to throw the candy onto the field during a promotional event [1]. However, as the novelty of these branded bars faded, so did their presence in vending machines [1].

Other candies faced more technical hurdles. The Seven Up bar, produced by Pearson’s in the 1930s, attempted to pack fudge, coconut, mint, and caramel into seven separate compartments, but the labor-intensive assembly made it difficult to maintain [1]. Meanwhile, Nestlé’s Choco’Lite, which featured air-filled chocolate, often arrived in vending machines as a misshapen mess due to its sensitivity to heat [1]. Mars faced similar issues with its Summit bar, which was intended to compete with Twix but softened too quickly in warm environments, leading to its disappearance by the mid-1980s [1].

Shifts in Corporate Strategy

Corporate decisions also played a significant role in the extinction of popular snacks. The PowerHouse bar, favored by workers for its dense, filling combination of fudge and peanuts, was discontinued in the mid-1980s [1]. The Caravelle bar, which featured crisped rice and caramel, saw its production trimmed after Cadbury acquired Peter Paul in 1978 [1]. Even successful products were not immune; PB Max, which launched in 1989 and reportedly sold millions of units per month, was pulled from the market by Mars, with former executives citing a personal dislike for peanut butter among the Mars family [1]. Despite these closures, some brands showed resilience, such as the Hershey’s Rally Bar, which was periodically revived over several decades due to its loyal following [1].