The prospect of Kraft Corporation taking over Cadbury’s has roused some protectionist ire in the land of humbugs, jelly babies, gobstoppers etc.,
This Guardian story, Get Your Hands Off Our Sweets!, revived a 25 year old argument here. Listen to this, I said, and read the following to Sweet nr 1
Sweets executives tend to leave the best-known brands alone, because when they do tinker with them there can be uproar – witness the dismay which greeted the replacing of Marathon bar with its US name, Snickers…
I reminded her of our disagreement, when living in America almost 25 years ago, on whether Snickers were sold in the UK.
Snickers, aka Marathon bar
What was wagered I can’t recall now, but I did take the precaution of bringing back a box with a dozen bars or so when we returned for Christmas one year. I intended to plant these in the local village shop, with the connivance of the shop keeper, and then innocently add Snickers to the next shopping list.
My perfidy was rumbled in circumstances I’ve also forgotten, but we all had a good laugh, which was the point (it wasn’t really a serious wager).
Nevertheless, clearly, Snickers were sold in the UK so I was right all along.
Or was I?
A review of the Wikipedia page for Snickers says not. I was several years too early.
The brand name collision with Snickers Workwear, founded in 1975, is a little surprising — not that people are really likely to confuse chocolate and clothing, but you know how American companies love those cease and desist letters.
Of course, you may object to Kraft and Cadburys calling their confections chocolate in the first place, but the EU bailed on that one long ago.
Lindt is our preferred chocolate, but the argument on the ideal temperature for consumption continues. The chocaholic goes for warm; I like it cool, from the fridge.
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Snickers was called Marathon in the UK — where snickers still only meant rude giggles.
It’s sad to see Cadbury’s go. Let’s hope they keep the brand, since it seems unthinkable to imagine Kraft Dairy Milk — but then we don’t hear much of Rowntree’s today. Or Mackintosh or Fry, either…