Anger over demise of Kiwi lollies

SNUFFED OUT: Production has ceased for iconic Kiwi lollies Snifters and Tangy Fruits.

END OF AN ERA: Wellington's Time Cinema owner John Bell warned that a nostalgic element of cinema was about to disappear.

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Outrage over the demise of three iconic Kiwi sweets is mounting, with Stuff.co.nz readers flooding the site with feedback.

By 4pm today, more than 600 comments had bombarded the Stuff.co.nz newsroom, and showed no sign of slowing. Almost all were angered by revelations yesterday afternoon that Cadbury Schweppes had halted production of Tangy Fruits, Sparkles and Snifters.

Most comments expressed sadness at the loss of a Kiwi icon.
 
Caroline said: "What! The end of Sparkles and Tangy Fruits? As an ex-pat Kiwi what I am going to feed my kids when I come home? I'd like to be able to say 'this is what real lollies are like - not that rubbish you get in Australia'."

Others, like Roy, appeared devastated by the demise of the big three.

"Fire up the Large Hadron Collider, bring on the big bang, for me world has already ended - No Tangy Fruit!".

Nick questioned whether this was just the start of a slippery slope.

"What's next - Jaffas, Buzz Bars, Perky Nanas and L&P being canned too?"

Many others fondly remembered going to the flicks as children and being able to enjoy the treats, sometimes eaten and other times biffed at the balding heads of cinema-goers in the front rows. At least one cinema chaim stopped stocking the traditional Tangy Fruits in New Zealand to keep in line with Australian purchasing protocols.

Cadbury Schweppes spokesman Daniel Ellis told the Manawatu Standard yesterday that sales for the three had decreased significantly in recent years.

"Unfortunately, this continued lack of consumer interest and reduced sales means that the product is no longer viable for us to manufacture. We recognise that some consumers will be disappointed and apologise for any inconvenience caused."

Many Stuff.co.nz readers called for concerted lobbying and campaigning to save the much-loved sweets. But a Cadbury Schweppes representative spoken to this morning indicated there was no chance of the company having a change of heart and cranking the production lines back up.

Wellington's Time Cinema owner John Bell warned that a nostalgic element of cinema was about to disappear.

"I think it's because the younger generation is not acquainted with what an important part of our cinematic history Snifters are.

"Although, I must say, even we've noticed the sales of Snifters have decreased over the last 12 months."

Five Facebook groups have also sprung up overnight, dedicated to the plight of the now extinct sweets.

One of them, called "Save the Snifters, Tangy Fruits and Sparkles", had 117 members at 11.30am today.

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- © Fairfax NZ News