The Discontinued Cadbury Chocolate Bar Launched In The '60s To Take On KitKat

KitKat chocolate bars have decades of history, with the brand's roots dating back to 1935. While it started as a British delight known as Rowntree's Chocolate Crisp, this segmented wafer-based treat soon made its way around the world, and its popularity unsurprisingly spawned products that closely resemble the original — even including Walmart's KitKat copycat. But back in the '60s, Cadbury launched a now-discontinued KitKat competitor that is especially fondly recalled: Bar Six. 

Introduced in 1964, this Cadbury confection pretty closely resembled a KitKat bar, with a chocolate coating and filling-laced wafers. The bar could be separated into six individual sections, just as you can break a KitKat up into four pieces — but Bar Six was distinct by being stuffed with hazelnut cream between its chocolate-covered wafer layers. While many KitKat flavors were introduced over the years, the primary variety focuses on chocolate alone, so Bar Six boasted a taste of its own that earned fans for decades.

But alas, anyone seeking Bar Six among the modern-day selection of Cadbury chocolate bars will find only disappointment. Tasting Table reached out to a spokesperson for Mondelēz International, the current owner of Cadbury, to learn that in 1986 Cadbury sold its food-production line — including Bar Six — to Premier Brands, which only manufactured this chocolate goody until the late 1990s.

Over its decades on the market, Bar Six definitely became a popular treat across Britain and beyond, and generations of its fans still share happy memories of enjoying this chocolate bar years ago. On one Reddit forum inquiring when members of Gen X had last eaten a Bar Six, a few people expressed fond feelings for the bygone sweet. One commenter wistfully responded, "Back in the 1970's. Haven't seen them since. Kit Kat, Bar Six, and Coffee Crisp were all favourite wafer chocolate bars. Bar Six is probably not made anymore." 

On another Reddit thread dedicated to '80s nostalgia, consumers were equally sentimental for Bar Six. "These were better than Kit Kats," one commenter enthused, while another Redditor said, "I remember getting those from Pubs when we went to Ireland when I was a kid. Sitting on a bar stool with a large 7up and a Bar 6. Glory days." And one more commenter makes clear their wish for Bar Six to return someday: "Loved Bar Six! Back then Cadburys choc was the best. Ive never really liked Kit Kat...id love it if Cadbury made Bar Six again."

While the Mondelēz International spokesperson made no mention of any plans to resurrect the Bar Six brand, it's absolutely undeniable that this treat remains a cherished memory for lots of people. KitKat's successful formula may persist, but it will never break the desire of many to enjoy Bar Six once more.