Opal Fruits spotted in some UK shops 28 years after rebrand

Opal Fruits have been spotted in some shops recently in the UK <i>(Image: Getty Images)</i>
Opal Fruits have been spotted in some shops recently in the UK (Image: Getty Images)
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A classic childhood favourite sweet has been spotted on supermarket shelves again, 28 years after it was rebranded.

Opal Fruits, the chewy, fruit-flavoured sweets first introduced in 1960 and known for their vibrant packaging, have returned to some shops in the UK.

The retro treats have been spotted in discount stores including B&M, Home Bargains and Poundland, where they are being sold for just £1 or less.

The Forth Valley Food Guy posted a picture of the sweets this week to Facebook, which read: “Spotted in B&M. Opal Fruits.

"Thought I was seeing things, when did this happen?”

“Britain is healing,” commented one user.

Another chimed in with the iconic tagline for the fruity sweets: “Made to make your mouth water.”

Meanwhile, another posted: "None of that starburst nonsense."

Another said: "No blackcurrant ones in them tho."

The history of Opal Fruits

Opal Fruits were rebranded to Starbursts in 1998 and were originally made up of strawberry, orange, lime and lemon flavours.

However, the revamp saw the combining of lemon and lime and the introduction of a new blackcurrant flavour.

Mars Wrigley has occasionally re-released Opal Fruits, most recently in 2021, 2024 and 2025, The Sun reports.

As part of a previous re-release, Florence McGivern, senior brand manager for Skittles at Mars Wrigley, said: "Our new limited-edition Opal Fruits will be as iconic as it was in the 90s, giving fans the chance to revisit the strawberry, lemon, orange and lime flavours from decades ago.


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"The nostalgia trend continues to resonate strongly with consumers, and we are giving them the chance to reconnect with memories from that time.

"This limited edition follows successful runs in 2021 and 2024, and we are especially excited about this release as we continue to celebrate the rich heritage of an iconic brand."

Will you be looking to find some Opal Fruits? Let us know in the comments.

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