Wednesday, October 23, 2013

From the Candy Aisle: Wacky Wafers

Product: Wacky Wafers
Company: Willy Wonka
Years: 80s - 90's
Image by Dan Goodsell

Sometimes candy goes away and you never even know it. Case in point, Wacky Wafers. I'm guessing most people don't even realize they haven't been made in quite some time.

Wacky Wafers were made by the Willy Wonka Candy Company until Nestle took it over back in 1988, then they eventually pulled the plug sometime in the late 90's. The ones I remember the most are the larger ones (the Originals and best, as far as I'm concerned), about the side of a half dollar, that came in a row. They also came in various other sizes over the years, including smaller disks about the side of Bottle Caps or Sweet Tarts that came in single packs and on a roll, similar to today's Sweet Tarts.
Image by CollectingCandy.com
Flavors included Banana, Green Apple, Strawberry, Watermelon, and Orange, with a few variations over the years including Blue Raspberry, Cherry, and Grape.

I don't have a lot of info in this candy, as it simply one day disappeared, quietly in the dark of the night. Like a jilted lover, or a Possum.

But there is still hope that we may one day get to taste these sweet treats again. In early 2012, Leaf Brands LLC acquired the trademark for Wacky Wafers, and rumors have been floating around that they will be reviving this long lost candy very soon.

 To which I can only say "Man, that would be awesome."  So I will.

Man, that WOULD be awesome......

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Back from the Dead for Halloween!!! Monsters!!!! (Well, Monster Cereals, anyway...)

 Sometimes they come back.......the Return of Frute Brute and Yummy Mummy!


A little different post today to make everyone aware (thought it seems like everyone has known about and been extremely excited for these for a while now) that General Mills has brought back two of it's Gone but not Forgotten Cereals for Halloween, Yummy Mummy and the legendary Frute Brute! I've talked about them before, but a few months ago when I heard they were coming back from the dead, I was genuinely excited, as I'm sure most of you were. Both these cereals have been gone for 20+ years, so it's quite exciting (and an A+++++ for General Mills) to see a company listening to the cries of us thirtysomethingers (that's a word, right?) to bring back the cereals that we miss from our childhood. Simply bringing them back would have been enough for most people, but like me, I remember a lot of people saying "Wouldn't it be cool if they not only brought them back, but brought back the original packaging that we all loved so much?" As it turned out, General Mills was doing their homework, because the next day it was announced that they would be available for a limited time,  IN THEIR ORIGINAL PACKAGING, from Target! Simply amazing. The nerd in me made plans to check Target each and every day until I found these (which sadly I still haven't spotted them in my area), but I did get a surprise prize package in the mail from General Mills (provided through MyBlogSpark) containg 3 of the 5 boxes, Boo Berry, Frute Brute, and Yummy Mummy.


So I did what any 30+ year old would do who is longing for the simpler times that were his youth would do: I woke up with my kids early one Saturday Morning, popped in a DVD which contained a 3 hour block of cartoons with Original Commercials from my youth (1984 to be exact), and cracked open all 3 boxes of cereal, which my kids and I quickly devoured.

Boo Berry and Frute Brute were the first to go, followed up by Yummy Mummy. It was a glorious morning, and my kids and I loved them all. I have to thank General Mills for doing this. I can't help but think that they will have a spike in sales simply from people like myself, as I know some of my internet buddies are buying 2...3....even 4 boxes at a time. Stock up, and display the boxes proudly! (We all know how much the original Fruit Brute boxes go for, so the Retro box will have to do for now!)
I still need to hunt down the Count Chocula and Frankenberry retro boxes to finish my collection, and I will continue to check Target until I find them.

And if having the retro boxes of love wasn't enough, if you purchase 3 retro boxes at Target between now and October 31st you will get a Monster Bash magazine, which contains tips and tricks for making your Halloween the spookiest and creepiest Halloween ever, and its FREE when you purchase 3 boxes in a single shopping trip. So what are you waiting for! Stock up while you can!!! The clock is ticking, and Halloween is almost here!!!

Once again, I want to thank General Mills for making this retro nerd happy this Halloween season (It's a Halloween miracle!) I'd also like to thank MyBlogSpark for sending me the boxes of love!

Get more information from General Mills here! www.grocerysavvy.com

(Disclosure: The information and prize pack have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.)